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{{short description|Political party in India}}
{{Infobox Indian_Political_Party
|party_name = Communist Party of India (Marxist)
{{for|parties with similar names|Communist Party of India (disambiguation)}}
{{redirect|CPIM|Common Profile for Instant Messaging|Instant Messaging and Presence Protocol}}{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
|party_logo =[[Image:SUCI flag.svg|200px|center]]
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2022}}
|eci = National Party
{{Infobox Indian political party
|secretary = [[Prakash Karat]]
|party_name = Communist Party of India (Marxist)
|foundation = 1964
|abbreviation = CPI(M), CPIM, CPM
|alliance = [[Left Front]]
|party_logo = [[File:Cpm election symbol.svg|150px]]
|ideology = [[Marxism-Leninism]]
|flag = [[File:CPI-M-flag.svg|200px]]
|loksabha_leader = [[Basudev Acharia]]<ref name="sabha">http://cpim.org/statement/2007/11132007-nandigram-dasmunsi.htm</ref>
|colorcode = {{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
|rajyasabha_leader = [[Sitaram Yechuri]]<ref name="sabha"/>
|presidium = [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)|Politburo]]
|loksabha_seats = 16
|general_secretary = [[Vacant]]
|rajyasabha_seats = 14
|rajyasabha_leader = [[Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya]]
|publication = ''People's Democracy'' ([[English language|English]]),<br>''Lok Lehar'' ([[Hindi]])
|foundation = {{start date and age|df=yes|p=y|1964|11|07}}
|headquarters = 27-29, Bhai Vir Singh Marg, [[New Delhi]] - 110001
|founder = {{collapsible list|[[P. Ramamurthi]]|[[M. Basavapunnaiah]]|[[E. M. S. Namboodiripad]]|[[Harkishan Singh Surjeet|H. S. Surjeet]]|[[Promode Dasgupta]]|[[Jyoti Basu]]|[[Hare Krishna Konar|H. K. Konar]]|[[Puchalapalli Sundarayya|P. Sundarayya]]|[[B. T. Ranadive]]|[[A. K. Gopalan]]}}
|students = [[Students Federation of India]]
|youth = [[Democratic Youth Federation of India]]
|split = [[Communist Party of India]]
|headquarters = A. K. Gopalan Bhawan, 27–29, Bhai Vir Singh Marg, [[New Delhi]]-110 001
|women = [[All India Democratic Womens Association]]
|eci = [[List of political parties in India#National parties|National Party]]
|labour = [[Centre of Indian Trade Unions]]
|alliance = {{collapsible list|title='''Alliances'''|{{bulleted list| [[Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance]] {{small|([[India|National]])}}||[[Secular Progressive Alliance]] {{small|([[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]])}}|[[Left Front (Tripura)|Left Front]] {{small|([[Tripura]])}}|[[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] {{small|([[West Bengal]])}}|[[Secular Democratic Alliance]] {{small|([[West Bengal]])}}|[[Left Democratic Front]] {{small|([[Kerala]])}}|[[Asom Sonmilito Morcha]] {{small|([[Assam]])}}|[[Mahagathbandhan (Bihar)|Mahagathbandhan]] {{small|([[Bihar]])}}|[[Maha Vikas Aghadi]] {{small|([[Maharashtra]])}}|[[Manipur Progressive Secular Alliance]] {{small|([[Manipur]])}}}}}}
|peasants =[[All India Kisan Sabha (Ashoka Road)|All India Kisan Sabha]]
|loksabha_seats = {{Composition bar|4|543|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|culture =
|rajyasabha_seats = {{Composition bar|4|245|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|electoral_symbol = [[Image:ECI-hammer-sickle-star.png|100px]]
|state_seats_name = [[State legislative assemblies of India|State legislatures]]
|website = [http://cpim.org/ cpim.org]
|state_seats = {{Composition bar|81|4036|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}} {{small|(Total)}} {{hidden
|State Legislatures
|style=text-align:center; |
{{Composition bar|62|140|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}{{small|([[Kerala Legislative Assembly|Kerala]])}}
{{Composition bar|10|60|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}} {{small|([[Tripura Legislative Assembly|Tripura]])}}
{{Composition bar|2|234|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}} {{small|([[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|Tamil Nadu]])}}
{{Composition bar|2|243|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}} {{small|([[Bihar Legislative Assembly|Bihar]])}}
{{Composition bar|1|126|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}} {{small|([[Assam Legislative Assembly|Assam]])}}
{{Composition bar|1|90|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}} {{small|([[Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly|Jammu & Kashmir]])}}
{{Composition bar|1|147|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}} {{small|([[Odisha Legislative Assembly|Odisha]])}}
{{Composition bar|1|288|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}} {{small|([[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly|Maharashtra]])}}
}}
}}
|no_states = {{Composition bar|3|31|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
The '''Communist Party of India (Marxist)''' (abbreviated '''CPI(M)''' or '''CPM''') is a [[political party]] in [[India]]. It has a strong presence in the states of [[Kerala]], [[West Bengal]] and [[Tripura]]. As of 2008, CPI(M) is leading the state governments in these three states. The party emerged out of a split from the [[Communist Party of India]] in 1964. CPI(M) claimed to have 982,155 members in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cpim.org/xix%20cong/2008-19%20cong-pol-org%20report.pdf | title=Political-Organizational Report adopted at the XIXth Congress of the CPI(M) held in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, March 29-April 23, 2008}}</ref>
|ideology =
{{nowrap|[[Communism]]<ref name="OUP_Ideology">{{cite book|title=Communism in India: Events, Processes and Ideologies|author=Chakrabarty, Bidyut|isbn=978-0-1999-7489-4|lccn=2014003207|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oEtRBAAAQBAJ|year=2014|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] }}</ref><ref name="Constitution">{{cite web |title=Constitution & The Rules Under the Constitution |url=https://www.cpim.org/party-constitution |website=Communist Party of India (Marxist) |date=18 March 2009 |access-date=31 October 2023}}</ref>}}<br>{{nowrap|[[Marxism-Leninism]]<ref name="Constitution"/>}}
|position = [[Left-wing politics|Left-wing]]<ref>—{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/05/31/indias-election-results-were-more-than-modi-wave/ |title=India's election results were more than a 'Modi wave' |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=31 May 2019}}
<br />—{{cite news |last=Withnall |first=Adam |date=2 January 2019 |title=Protesters form 620km 'women's wall' in India as female devotees pray at Hindu temple for first time |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/womens-wall-protest-india-kerala-temple-hindu-pray-supreme-court-sexism-a8708381.html |website=[[The Independent]]}}
<br />—{{cite web |url=https://thewire.in/rights/manipur-arrests-cpi-secretary-caa-protests |title=Manipur: CPI State Secretary, Blogger Arrested over CAA Protests |work=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]] |access-date=24 December 2019}}
<br />—{{cite web |last=Choudhury |first=Shubhadeep |date=4 May 2020 |title=West Bengal has the highest mortality rate of COVID-19 patients: IMCT |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/west-bengal-has-the-highest-mortality-rate-of-covid-19-patients-imct-80301 |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]]}}
<br />—{{cite journal |last=Nandi |first=Proshanta |date=2005 |title=Communism through the Ballot Box: Over a Quarter Century of Uninterrupted Rule in West Bengal |journal=Sociological Bulletin |volume=54 |issue=2 |pages=171–194 |doi=10.1177/0038022920050202 |jstor=23620496 |s2cid=157014751 |issn=0038-0229}}
<br />—{{cite journal |last=Fernandes |first=Leela |date=1996 |title=Review of Development Policy of a Communist Government: West Bengal since 1977, ; Indian Communism: Opposition, Collaboration and Institutionalization, Ross Mallick |journal=The Journal of Asian Studies |volume=55 |issue=4 |pages=1041–1043 |doi=10.2307/2646581 |jstor=2646581 |s2cid=236090170 |issn=0021-9118}}
<br />—{{cite journal |last=Moodie |first=Deonnie |date=August 2019 |title=On Blood, Power and Public Interest: The Concealment of Hindu Sacrificial rites under Indian Law |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-law-and-religion/article/on-blood-power-and-public-interest-the-concealment-of-hindu-sacrificial-rites-under-indian-law/339C7920CEB8F426D575635EDC6ACE9B |journal=Journal of Law and Religion |volume=34 |issue=2 |pages=165–182 |doi=10.1017/jlr.2019.24 |s2cid=202333308 |issn=0748-0814}}</ref>
|publication = ''[[People's Democracy (journal)|People's Democracy]]'' <br /> ''[[Ganashakti]]'' <br />''[[Deshabhimani]]'' <br /> ''[[Theekkathir]]''<br /> ''[[Loklahar]]'' <br /> ''[[Daily Desher Katha]]''
|youth = *[[Democratic Youth Federation of India]]
*[[Tribal Youth Federation]]
|students = *[[Students' Federation of India]]
*[[Tribal Students Union]]
|labour = [[Centre of Indian Trade Unions]]
|women = [[All India Democratic Women's Association]]
|peasants =
*[[All India Kisan Sabha (36 Canning Lane)|All India Kisan Sabha]]
*[[All India Agricultural Workers Union]]
|website = {{URL|https://cpim.org/}}
|international = [[International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties|IMCWP]]
|membership = {{increase}} 1 million+ (2023)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/cpi-m-report-raises-concerns-over-dwindling-party-membership-and-laxity-of-top-leadership-article-90680507|title=CPI (M) report raises concerns over dwindling party membership and laxity of top leadership|date=6 April 2022}}</ref><ref name="zeenews.india.com">{{Cite web|url=https://zeenews.india.com/malayalam/kerala/cpim-show-membership-growth-only-kerala-decreaces-immensely-in-national-level-87034|title=Cpim: സിപിഎം ദേശീയതല അംഗത്വത്തിൽ വൻ കുറവ്; കേരളത്തിൽ മുന്നേറ്റം|date=7 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/latest-news/2022/04/06/cpm-considers-kerala-as-the-main-hope-in-the-growth-of-party-in-the-future.html|title=കഴിഞ്ഞ പാർട്ടി കോൺഗ്രസിനേക്കാൾ അംഗങ്ങൾ കുറഞ്ഞു; പ്രതീക്ഷ കേരളത്തിൽ മാത്രം!|website=ManoramaOnline}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.anandabazar.com/west-bengal/cpm-sees-increase-in-new-membership-in-bengal/cid/1405732|title=নতুন সদস্যের হার বাড়ল বঙ্গ সিপিএমে|website=Anandabazar Patrika Online}}</ref>
|colours = {{color box|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}} Red
|electoral_symbol = Hammer Sickle and Star <br />[[File:CPI(M) election symbol - Hammer Sickle and Star.svg|100px]]
|loksabha leader=[[K Radhakrishnan]]}}
{{Communist Parties|Asia}}
{{Communism in India|expanded=all}}
The '''Communist Party of India (Marxist)''' (abbreviated as '''CPI(M)''') is a [[Communism in India|communist]] [[List of political parties in India|political party]] in [[India]].<ref name="OUP_Ideology"/> It is the largest communist party in India in terms of membership and electoral seats, and one of the [[List of political parties in India#National parties|national parties]] of India.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=List of Political Parties and Election Symbols main Notification Dated 18 January 2013 |url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/category/267-recognized-regional-parties/ |publisher=Election Commission of India |access-date=9 May 2013 |location=India |year=2013}}</ref> The party was founded through [[1964 split in the Communist Party of India|a splitting]] from the '''[[Communist Party of India]]''' in 1964 and it quickly became the dominant faction.


The 34 years of [[Communist Party of India (Marxist), West Bengal|CPI(M)]] led [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] rule in [[West Bengal]] was the longest-serving democratically elected communist-led government in the world. It has been also the third largest party of [[Parliament of India|parliament]] several times.<ref>{{Citation |title=2004 Indian general election |date=2023-10-01 |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=2004_Indian_general_election&oldid=1178038952 |work=Wikipedia |access-date=2023-10-05 |language=en}}</ref> Presently, CPI(M) is a part of ruling alliances in two states - the [[Left Democratic Front|LDF]] in [[Kerala]], which it leads, and the [[Secular Progressive Alliance|SPA]] in [[Tamil Nadu]]. It also has representation in the legislative assemblies of seven states.
==History==
===Split in the Communist Party of India and formation of CPI(M)===


The All-India Party Congress is the supreme authority of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).<ref name="cpim-const">{{cite web |url=https://cpim.org/party-constitution |title=Party Constitution {{!}} Communist Party of India (Marxist) |date=18 March 2009 |access-date=17 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317152952/https://cpim.org/party-constitution |archive-date=17 March 2020}}</ref> However, during the time between two party congresses, the Central Committee is the highest decision-making body.<ref name="cpim-const" /> The [[Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)|Central Committee]] shall elect from among its members a [[Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)|Polit Bureau]] including the General Secretary.<ref name="cpim-const" /> The Polit Bureau carries on the work of the Central Committee between its two sessions and has the right to take political and organisational decisions in between two meetings of the Central Committee.<ref name="cpim-const" />
CPI(M) emerged out of a division within the [[Communist Party of India]] (CPI). The undivided CPI had experienced a period of upsurge during the years following the [[Second World War]]. The CPI led armed rebellions in [[Telengana Rebellion|Telangana]], [[Tripura]] and [[Kerala]]. However, it soon abandoned the strategy of armed revolution in favour of working within the [[parliamentary]] framework. In 1950 [[B.T. Ranadive]], the CPI general secretary and a prominent representative of the radical sector inside the party, was demoted on grounds of left-[[adventurism]].


CPI(M) had a total [[Political funding in India|income]] of ₹1,620,000,000 in fiscal year 2021–22. The party reported zero [[Political funding in India|funding]] from [[Electoral Bond]]s.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Joy |first1=Shemin |title=BJP's income rose by 154.82% in 2021-22: ADR Report |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/bjp-s-income-rose-by-15482-in-2021-22-adr-report-1196171.html |access-date=2 November 2023 |work=Deccan Herald |date=1 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=BJP declares highest income for 2021-22; Trinamool's income sees staggering jump: ADR report |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bjp-declares-highest-income-for-2021-22-trinamools-income-sees-staggering-jump-adr-report/article66568208.ece |access-date=2 November 2023 |work=The Hindu |date=1 March 2023 |language=en-IN}}</ref>
[[Image:Akgopalanbhavan240.jpg|thumb|left|AKG Bhavan, the CPI(M) national headquarters in [[Delhi]].
{{coord|28|37|53.6|N|77|12|17.9|E}}]]
[[Image:Cpimmobile.jpg|thumb|align=right|Campaign vehicle in [[Ernakulam]]]]
[[Image:Cpmmural5.jpg|thumb|align=right|Bengali mural for the CPI(M) candidate in the Kolkata North West constituency in the 2004 Lok Sabha election, [[Sudhangshu Seal]]]]
[[Image:Cpimkolkatamural2005.jpg|thumb|align=right|18th CPI(M) [[West Bengal]] state conference mural]]


== Name ==
Under the government of the [[Congress Party]] of [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], independent India developed close relations and a strategic partnership with the [[Soviet Union]]. The Soviet government consequently wished that the Indian communists moderate their criticism towards the Indian state and assume a supportive role towards the Congress governments. However, large sections of the CPI claimed that India remained a semi-[[feudal]] country, and that [[class struggle]] could not be put on the back-burner for the sake of guarding the interests of Soviet trade and foreign policy. Moreover, the Indian National Congress appeared to be generally hostile towards political competition. In 1959 the central government intervened to impose [[President's Rule]] in [[Kerala]], toppling the [[E.M.S. Namboodiripad]] cabinet (the sole non-Congress state government in the country).
CPI(M) is officially known as {{lang|hi|भारत की कम्युनिस्ट पार्टी (मार्क्सवादी)}} [{{transliteration|hi|ISO|Bhārat kī Kamyunisṭ Pārṭī (Mārksvādī)}}] in Hindi, but it is often known as {{lang|hi|मार्क्सवादी कम्युनिस्ट पार्टी}} ({{transliteration|hi|ISO|Mārksvādī Kamyunisṭ Pārṭī}}, abbreviated ''MaKaPa'') in press and media circles. During its initial years after the split, the party was often referred to by different names such as 'Left Communist Party' or 'Communist Party of India (Left)'. The party has used the name 'Left' because CPI people were dubbed 'rightist' in nature for their support of the Congress-Nehru regime. During the Kerala Legislative Assembly elections of 1965, the party adopted the name 'Communist Party of India (Marxist)' and applied to obtain its election symbol from the [[Election Commission of India]].<ref>{{harvnb|Basu|1999|p=189}}.</ref>


== Background ==
Simultaneously, the relations between the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union]] and the [[Communist Party of China]] soured. In the early 1960s the Communist Party of China began criticising the CPSU of turning [[Revisionism (Marxism)|revisionist]] and of deviating from the path of [[Marxism-Leninism]]. [[Sino-Indian relations]] also deteriorated, as border disputes between the two countries erupted into the [[Sino-Indian War|Indo-China war of 1962]]. During the war, a faction of the Indian Communists backed the position of the Indian government, while other sections of the party claimed that it was a conflict between a [[socialist]] and a [[capitalism|capitalist]] state, and thus took a pro-Chinese position. There were three factions in the party - "internationalists", "centrists", and "nationalists". Internationalists supported the Chinese stand whereas the nationalists backed India; centrists took a neutral view. Prominent leaders including [[S.A. Dange]] were in the nationalist faction. [[B. T. Ranadive]], [[P. Sundarayya]], [[P. C. Joshi]], [[Makineni Basavapunnaiah|Basavapunnaiah]], [[Jyoti Basu]], and [[Harkishan Singh Surjeet]] were among those supported China. [[Ajoy Ghosh]] was the prominent person in the centrist faction. In general, most of Bengal Communist leaders supported China and most others supported India.<!-- Is there no other terminology than nationalists/internationalists that could be used instead? I feel that the wordings are somewhat misleading. --><ref>http://www.jstor.org/cgi-bin/jstor/viewitem/00223816/di976533/97p0420z/0?frame=noframe&dpi=3&userID=ca4491e6@iitb.ac.in/01cce4405e00501c2d76b&backcontext=page </ref> Hundreds of CPI leaders, accused of being pro-Chinese were imprisoned. Some of the nationalists were also imprisoned, as they used to express their opinion only in party forums, and CPI's official stand was pro-China. Thousands of Communists were detained without trial.<ref>The bulk of the detainees came from the leftwing of CPI. However, [[cadre]]s of the [[Socialist Unity Centre of India]] and the [[Workers Party of India]] were also targeted.[http://www.ganashakti.com/archive/left_unity.htm]</ref> Those targeted by the state accused the pro-Soviet leadership of the CPI of conspiring with the Congress government to ensure their own hegemony over the control of the party.
{{main|Communist Party of India}}
[[File:Telangana Armed Struggle guerrillas.jpg|thumb|Guerrillas of the [[Telangana Rebellion|Telangana armed struggle]] (1946–1951)]]
[[File:A Communist Party camp in Karol Bagh, Delhi, 1952.jpg|thumb|CPI election campaign in [[Karol Bagh]], [[Delhi]], for the [[1951–52 Indian general election|1952 Indian general election]]]]
[[File:Swearing in of CPI cabinet in Kerala, April 1957.jpg|thumb|Swearing-in ceremony of [[E. M. S. Namboodiripad]] as first [[List of chief ministers of Kerala|Chief Minister of Kerala]], April 1957]]
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) emerged from a division within the [[Communist Party of India]], which was formed on 26 December 1925.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sites.google.com/a/communistparty.in/cpi/brief-history-of-cpi |title=Brief History of CPI |access-date=1 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209001241/https://sites.google.com/a/communistparty.in/cpi/brief-history-of-cpi |archive-date=9 December 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The CPI had experienced an upsurge in support during the years following the [[World War II]], and had led armed rebellions in [[Telangana Rebellion|Telangana]], [[Tripura (princely state)|Tripura]], and Kerala. However, it soon abandoned the strategy of armed revolution in favor of working within the [[Parliament]] framework. In 1950, [[B. T. Ranadive]], the CPI general secretary and a prominent representative of the radical sector inside the party, was demoted on grounds of left-adventurism.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.marxists.org/glossary/orgs/c/o.htm|title=Coalition Provisional Government|access-date=23 March 2024}}</ref>


Under the government of the [[Indian National Congress]] party of [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], independent India developed close relations and a strategic partnership with the [[Soviet Union]]. The Soviet government consequently wished that the Indian communists moderate their criticism towards the Indian state and assume a supportive role towards the Congress governments. However, large sections of the CPI claimed that India remained a semi-[[Feudalism|feudal]] country and that [[Class conflict]] could not be put on the back-burner for the sake of guarding the interests of Soviet trade and foreign policy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cbpbu.ac.in/userfiles/file/2020/STUDY_MAT/POL_SC/LEFT%20PARTIES%20(1).pdf|title=left parties in India|access-date=2 January 2024}}</ref> Moreover, the Indian National Congress appeared to be generally hostile towards political competition. In 1959 the central government intervened to impose [[President's rule]] in Kerala, toppling the [[E. M. S. Namboodiripad]] cabinet (the sole non-Congress state government in the country).<ref>{{cite web |title=E.M.S. Namboodiripad {{!}} Indian politician |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/E-M-S-Namboodiripad |access-date=4 June 2021 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica}}</ref>
In 1962 [[Ajoy Ghosh]], the general secretary of the CPI, died. After his death, [[S.A. Dange]] was installed as the party chairman (a new position) and E.M.S. Namboodiripad as general secretary. This was an attempt to achieve a compromise. Dange represented the rightist fraction of the party and E.M.S. the leftist fraction.


== History ==
At a CPI National Council meeting held on [[April 11]], [[1964]], 32 Council members walked out in protest, accusing Dange and his followers of "anti-unity and anti-Communist policies".<ref>The 32 were [[P. Sundarayya]], [[M. Basavapunniah]], [[T. Nagi Reddy]], [[M. Hanumantha Rao]], [[D.V. Rao]], [[N. Prasad Rao]], [[G. Bapanayya]], [[E.M.S. Namboodiripad]], [[A.K. Gopalan]], [[A.V. Kunhambu]], [[C.H. Kanaran]], [[E.K. Nayanar]], [[V.S. Achuthanandan]], [[E.K. Imbichibava]], [[Promode Das Gupta]], [[Muzaffar Ahmad]], [[Jyoti Basu]], [[Abdul Halim]], [[Hare Krishna Konar]], [[Saroj Mukherjee]], [[P. Ramamurthi]], [[M.R. Venkataraman]], [[N. Sankariah]], [[K. Ramani]], [[Harkishan Singh Surjeet]], [[Jagjit Singh Lyallpuri]], [[D.S. Tapiala]], Dr. [[Bhag Singh]], [[Sheo Kumar Mishra]], [[R.N. Upadhyaya]], [[Mohan Punamiya]] and [[R.P. Saraf]]. Source: Bose, Shanti Shekar; A Brief Note on the Contents of Documents of the Communist Movement in India. Kolkata: 2005, National Book Agency, p. 37.</ref>


=== Formation (1964) ===
The leftist section, to which the 32 National Council members belonged, organised a convention in [[Tenali]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] [[July 7]] to 11. In this convention the issues of the internal disputes in the party were discussed. 146 delegates, claiming to represent 100,000 CPI members, took part in the proceedings. The convention decided to convene the 7th Party Congress of CPI in [[Calcutta]] later the same year.<ref name="basu51">Basu, Pradip. Towards Naxalbari (1953-1967) – An Account of Inner-Party Ideological Struggle. Calcutta: Progressive Publishers, 2000. p. 51.</ref>
{{main|1964 split in the Communist Party of India}}
{{further|Sino-Soviet split}}
The basis of difference in opinion between the two factions in CPI was ideological – about the assessment of the Indian scenario and the development of a party programme. This difference in opinion was also a reflection of whether the Communist Party in India would toe the lines of the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union]] (CPSU) or follow an independent path based on the concrete analysis of the Indian situation. The alleged 'right-wing' inside the party followed the Soviet path<ref name="auto1">{{cite news |title=CIA papers trace split of Indian Communists |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cia-papers-trace-split-of-indian-communists/articleshow/2162923.cms |website=The Times of India |date=30 June 2007 |language=en-IN}}</ref> whereas the 'left-wing' wanted to follow the [[Mass line| mass party with a class line]] with national characteristics, based on the 'independent' development of socialism in accordance to the India situation. Moreover, the faction of CPI which later became CPI(M) referred to the "right" strategy as a national approach of class collaboration, a damning charge within the communist movement, in which the prioritization of working-class interests and independence is considered paramount.<ref name="auto1" /><ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://lnews.in/bcccf8 |title=ഇന്ത്യ – ചൈന സംഘർഷം : 1962 ൻ്റെ പാഠങ്ങൾ |website=www.leftclicknews.com/}}</ref> Ideological difference also grew on the analysis of the role and character of the Indian bourgeoisie and the character of the Indian revolution. While the 'right wing' in the Party sought the Indian bourgeoisie to have a 'progressive' character and called for a national democratic revolution, the 'left wing' sought the character of the Indian bourgeoisie to be essentially reactionary and called for a peoples' democratic revolution. However as the 'left wing' grew, the Congress and the Party's 'right wing' dubbed them as pro-Chinese and essentially made extensive efforts to incriminate them of committing 'anti-national' activities. This ideological difference later intensified, and ultimately gave rise to the establishment of CPI(M).<ref name="kozhikkodepartycongress">{{cite web |url=http://www.kozhikodepartycongress.org/kerala-cpim-history.php |title=Communist Party in Kerala |publisher=CPI(M) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314030901/http://www.kozhikodepartycongress.org/kerala-cpim-history.php |archive-date=14 March 2012}}</ref>


Hundreds of CPI leaders, accused of being pro-Chinese, were imprisoned. Thousands of Communists were detained without trial.{{efn|The bulk of the detainees came from the left-wing of the CPI. However, [[Professional revolutionaries|cadres]] of the [[Socialist Unity Centre of India]] and the [[Workers Party of India]] were also targeted.<ref>[http://www.ganashakti.com/archive/left_unity.htm] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017160748/http://www.ganashakti.com/archive/left_unity.htm |date=17 October 2007}}</ref>}}<ref name="auto1" />
Marking a difference from the Dangeite sector of CPI, the Tenali convention was marked by the display of a large portrait of the [[Communist Party of China|Chinese Communist]] leader [[Mao Zedong]].<ref name="basu51"/>
The Communist Party CPI(M) has a strong history of championing labor rights<ref>https://indianapolitics.in/communist-party-of-india-marxist-deals/ '''workers' welfare'''</ref> and it supports the rights of industrial laborers, demanding fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to unionize.


In 1962, [[Ajoy Ghosh]], the General Secretary of the CPI died. After his death, [[Shripad Amrit Dange]] was installed as the party chairman (a new position) and E.M.S. Namboodiripad as general secretary. This was an attempt to achieve a compromise.
{{Indcom}}
At the Tenali convention a Bengal-based pro-Chinese group, representing one of the most radical streams of the CPI left wing, presented a draft programme proposal of their own. These radicals criticised the draft programme proposal prepared by [[M. Basavapunniah]] for undermining [[class struggle]] and failing to take a clear pro-Chinese position in the ideological conflict between the CPSU and CPC.<ref>[[Suniti Kumar Ghosh]] was a member of the group that presented this alternative draft proposal. His grouping was one of several left tendencies in the Bengali party branch. Basu, Pradip. ''Towards Naxalbari (1953-1967) – An Account of Inner-Party Ideological Struggle''. [[Calcutta]]: Progressive Publishers, 2000. p. 32.</ref>


At a CPI National Council meeting held on 11 April 1964, 32 Council members walked out.{{efn|The 32 were [[P. Sundarayya]], [[M. Basavapunniah]], [[T. Nagi Reddy]], [[Moturu Hanumantha Rao|M. Hanumantha Rao]], [[D.V. Rao]], N. Prasad Rao, G. Bapanayya, [[E.M.S. Namboodiripad]], [[A.K. Gopalan]], A.V. Kunhambu, C.H. Kanaran, [[E.K. Nayanar]], [[V.S. Achuthanandan]], E.K. Imbichibava, Promode Das Gupta, Muzaffar Ahmad, [[Jyoti Basu]], [[Abdul Halim]], [[Hare Krishna Konar]], [[Saroj Mukherjee]], [[P. Ramamurthi]], M.R. Venkataraman, [[N. Sankariah]], [[K. Ramani]], [[Harkishan Singh Surjeet]], [[Jagjit Singh Lyallpuri]], D.S. Tapiala, Bhag Singh, [[Sheo Kumar Mishra]], R.N. Upadhyaya, Mohan Punamiya, and [[R.P. Saraf]].<ref>{{harvnb|Bose|2005|p=37}}.</ref>}}
After the Tenali convention the CPI left wing organised party district and state conferences. In [[West Bengal]], a few of these meetings became battlegrounds between the most radical elements and the more moderate leadership. At the Calcutta Party District Conference an alternative draft programme was presented to the leadership by Parimal Das Gupta (a leading figure amongst far-left intellectuals in the party). Another alternative proposal was brought forward to the Calcutta Party District Conference by Azizul Haque, but Haque was initially banned from presenting it by the conference organisers. At the Calcutta Party District Conference 42 delegates opposed M. Basavapunniah’s official draft programme proposal.


The leftist section, to which the 32 National Council members belonged, organized a convention in [[Tenali]], Andhra Pradesh 7 to 11 July. In this convention, the issues of the internal disputes in the party were discussed. 146 delegates, claiming to represent 100,000 CPI members, took part in the proceedings. The convention decided to convene the 7th Party Congress of CPI in [[Kolkata]] later the same year.<ref name="basu51">{{harvnb|Basu|2000|p=51}}.</ref>
At the Siliguri Party District Conference, the main draft proposal for a party programme was accepted, but with some additional points suggested by the far-left North Bengal cadre [[Charu Majumdar]]. However, [[Harekrishna Konar]] (representing the leadership of the CPI left wing) forbade the raising of the slogan ''Mao Tse-Tung Zindabad'' (Long live Mao Tse-Tung) at the conference.


Marking a difference from the official sector of CPI, the Tenali convention was marked by the display of a large portrait of the Communist leader of China, [[Mao Zedong]].<ref name="basu51" />
[[Parimal Das Gupta]]'s document was also presented to the leadership at the West Bengal State Conference of the CPI leftwing. Das Gupta and a few other spoke at the conference, demanding the party ought to adopt the class analysis of the Indian state of the 1951 CPI conference. His proposal was, however, voted down.<ref>Basu, Pradip. Towards Naxalbari (1953-1967) – An Account of Inner-Party Ideological Struggle. [[Calcutta]]: Progressive Publishers, 2000. p. 52-54.</ref>


At the Tenali convention, a Bengal-based pro-Chinese group, representing one of the most radical streams of the CPI left-wing, presented a draft program proposal of their own. These radicals criticized the draft program proposal prepared by [[Makineni Basavapunnaiah]] for undermining [[Class conflict]] and failing to take a clear pro-Chinese position in the ideological conflict between the CPSU and the CPC.{{efn|Suniti Kumar Ghosh was a member of the group that presented this alternative draft proposal. His grouping was one of several left tendencies in the Bengali party branch.<ref>{{harvnb|Basu|2000|p=32}}.</ref>}}
The Calcutta Congress was held between [[October 31]] and [[November 7]], at Tyagraja Hall in southern Calcutta. Simultaneously, the Dange group convened a Party Congress of CPI in [[Bombay]]. Thus, the CPI divided into two separate parties. The group which assembled in Calcutta would later adopt the name 'Communist Party of India (Marxist)', in order to differentiate themselves from the Dange group. The CPI(M) also adopted its own political programme. [[P. Sundarayya]] was elected general secretary of the party.


After the Tenali convention, the CPI left-wing organized party district and state conferences. In [[West Bengal]], a few of these meetings became battlegrounds between the most radical elements and the more moderate leadership. At the Calcutta Party District Conference, an alternative draft program was presented to the leadership by Parimal Das Gupta (a leading figure amongst far-left intellectuals in the party). Another alternative proposal was brought forward to the Calcutta Party District Conference by [[Aziz ul Haq (Pakistani activist)|Aziz ul Haq]], but Haq was initially banned from presenting it by the conference organizers. At the Calcutta Party District Conference, 42 delegates opposed M. Basavapunniah's official draft program proposal.<ref name="pb1" />
In total 422 delegates took part in the Calcutta Congress. CPI(M) claimed that they represented 104,421 CPI members, 60% of the total party membership.


At the Siliguri Party District Conference, the main draft proposal for a party program was accepted, but with some additional points suggested by the far-left North Bengal cadre [[Charu Majumdar]]. However, [[Hare Krishna Konar]] (representing the leadership of the CPI left-wing) forbade the raising of the slogan ''Mao Tse-Tung Zindabad'' (Long live Mao Tse-Tung) at the conference.<ref name="pb1" />
At the Calcutta conference the party adopted a class analysis of the character of the Indian state, that claimed the Indian big [[bourgeoisie]] was increasingly collaborating with [[imperialism]].<ref name=autogenerated2>Basu, Pradip. Towards Naxalbari (1953-1967) – An Account of Inner-Party Ideological Struggle. [[Calcutta]]: Progressive Publishers, 2000. p. 54.</ref>


Parimal Das Gupta’s alternative draft programme was not circulated at the Calcutta conference. However, [[Souren Basu]], a delegate from the far-left stronghold [[Darjeeling]], spoke at the conference asking why no portrait had been raised of Mao Tse-Tung along the portraits of other communist stalwarts. His intervention met with huge applauses from the delegates of the conference.<ref name=autogenerated2 />
Parimal Das Gupta's document was also presented to the leadership at the West Bengal State Conference of the CPI leftwing. Das Gupta and a few others spoke at the conference, demanding the party ought to adopt the class analysis of the Indian state of the 1951 CPI conference. His proposal was, however, voted down.<ref name="pb1">{{harvnb|Basu|2000|pp=52–54}}.</ref>


The Calcutta Congress was held between 31 October and 7 November, at Tyagraja Hall in southern [[Kolkata]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://peoplesdemocracy.in/2014/1019_pd/50th-anniversary-cpim|title=50th Anniversary of CPI(M)|access-date=23 March 2024}}</ref> Simultaneously, the CPI convened a Party Congress in [[Mumbai]]. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://peoplesdemocracy.in/2014/1109_pd/seventh-party-congress-milestone-our-movement-and-struggle|title=Seventh Party Congress: A Milestone in Our Movement and Struggle|access-date=23 March 2024}}</ref> The group which assembled in Calcutta would later adopt the name 'Communist Party of India (Marxist)', to differentiate themselves from the CPI. The CPI(M) also adopted its own political program. [[Puchalapalli Sundarayya]] was elected general secretary of the party.<ref name="auto1" /><ref name="auto" />
===Early years of CPI(M)===
The CPI(M) was born into a hostile political climate. At the time of the holding of its Calcutta Congress, large sections of its leaders and cadres were jailed without trial. Again on December 29-30, over a thousand CPI(M) cadres were arrested, and held in jail without trial. In 1965 new waves of arrests of CPI(M) cadres took place in [[West Bengal]], as the party launched agitations against the rise in fares in the [[Calcutta Tramways]] and against the then prevailing food crisis. State-wide general strikes and [[hartal]]s were observed on [[August 5]], [[1965]], March 10-11, 1966 and [[April 6]], [[1966]]. The March 1966 general strike results in several deaths in confrontations with police forces.


In total, 422 delegates took part in the Calcutta Congress. CPI(M) claimed that they represented 104,421 CPI members, 60% of the total party membership.<ref>{{cite book |title=Peking Review |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i6StOodgop4C |year=1965 |publisher=Peking review |page=17}}</ref>
Also in Kerala, mass [[arrest]]s of CPI(M) cadres were carried out during 1965. In [[Bihar, India|Bihar]], the party called for a ''[[hartal|Bandh]]'' (general strike) in [[Patna]] on [[August 9]], [[1965]] in protest against the Congress state government. During the strike, police resorted to violent actions against the organisers of the strike. The strike was followed by agitations in other parts of the state.


At the Calcutta conference, the party adopted a class analysis of the character of the Indian state, that claimed the Indian [[bourgeoisie]] was increasingly collaborating with [[imperialism]].<ref name="autogenerated2">{{harvnb|Basu|2000|p=54}}.</ref>
P. Sundaraiah, after being released from jail, spent the period of September 1965-February 1966 in [[Moscow]] for medical treatment. In Moscow he also held talks with the CPSU.<ref>M.V.S. Koteswara Rao. ''Communist Parties and United Front - Experience in Kerala and West Bengal''. [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]: Prajasakti Book House, 2003. p. 17-18</ref>


Parimal Das Gupta's alternative draft program was not circulated at the Calcutta conference. However, [[Souren Bose]], a delegate from the far-left stronghold [[Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency|Darjeeling]], spoke at the conference asking why no portrait had been raised of Mao Tse-Tung along with the portraits of other communist stalwarts. His intervention was met with huge applause from conference delegates.<ref name="autogenerated2" />
The Central Committee of CPI(M) held its first meeting on June 12-19 1966. The reason for delaying the holding of a regular CC meeting was the fact that several of the persons elected as CC members at the Calcutta Congress were jailed at the time.<ref>The jailed members of the new CC, at the time of the Calcutta Congress, were [[B.T. Ranadive]], Muzaffar Ahmed, Hare Krishna Konar and Promode Das Gupta. Source: Bose, Shanti Shekar; A Brief Note on the Contents of Documents of the Communist Movement in India. Kolkata: 2005, National Book Agency, p. 44-5.</ref> A CC meeting had been scheduled to have been held in [[Trichur]] during the last days of 1964, but had been cancelled due to the wave of arrests against the party. The meeting discussed tactics for electoral alliances, and concluded that the party should seek to form a broad electoral alliances with all non-reactionary opposition parties in West Bengal (i.e. all parties except [[Jan Sangh]] and [[Swatantra Party]]). This decision was strongly criticised by the [[Communist Party of China]], the [[Party of Labour of Albania]], the [[Communist Party of New Zealand]] and the radicals within the party itself. The line was changed at a National Council meeting in [[Jullunder]] in October 1966, were it was decided that the party should only form alliances with selected left parties.<ref>M.V.S. Koteswara Rao. ''Communist Parties and United Front - Experience in Kerala and West Bengal''. [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]: Prajasakti Book House, 2003. p. 234-235.</ref>
{{Communism sidebar}}
{{Marxism–Leninism sidebar}}
{{Marxism}}


=== Early years (1964–1966) ===
===1967 General Election===
The CPI (M) was born into a hostile political climate. At the time of the holding of its Calcutta Congress, large sections of its leaders and cadres were jailed without trial. Again on 29–30 December, over a thousand CPI (M) cadres were arrested and detained and held in jail without trial.<ref name="rao17" /> In 1965 new waves of arrests of CPI(M) cadres took place in [[West Bengal]], as the party launched agitations against the rise in fares in the [[Calcutta Tramways Company]] and against the then-prevailing food crisis. Statewide general strikes and [[hartal]]s were observed on 5 August 1965, 10–11 March 1966, and 6 April 1966.<ref name="rao17" /> The March 1966 general strike resulted in several deaths during confrontations with police forces.<ref name="rao17" />
{{CPI(M)1967}}
In the 1967 [[Lok Sabha]] elections CPI(M) nominated 59 candidates. In total 19 of them were elected. The party received 6.2 million votes (4.28% of the nationwide vote). By comparison, CPI won 23 seats and got 5.11% of the nation-wide vote. In the state legistative elections held simultaneously, the CPI(M) emerged as a major party in Kerala and West Bengal. In Kerala a United Front government led by E.M.S. Namboodiripad was formed.<ref>In Kerala the United Front consisted, at the time of the election, of Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India, the [[Indian Union Muslim League|Muslim League]], the [[Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|Revolutionary Socialist Party]], the [[Karshaka Thozhilali Party]] and the [[Kerala Socialist Party]].[http://www.kerala.gov.in/knowkerala/political.htm]</ref> In West Bengal, CPI(M) was the main force behind the [[United Front (1967)|United Front]] government formed. The Chief Ministership was given to [[Ajoy Mukherjee]] of the [[Bangla Congress]] (a regional splinter-group of the Indian National Congress).


Also in Kerala, mass arrests of CPI(M) cadres were carried out during 1965. In [[Bihar]], the party called for a ''[[hartal|Bandh]]'' (general strike) in [[Patna]] on 9 August 1965 in protest against the Congress state government.<ref name="rao17" /> During the strike, police resorted to violent actions against the organizers of the strike. The strike was followed by agitations in other parts of the state.<ref name="rao17" />
===Naxalbari uprising===
{{main|Naxalite}}
At this point the party stood at crossroads. There were radical sections of the party who were wary of the increasing parliamentary focus of the party leadership, especially after the electoral victories in West Bengal and Kerala. Developments in China also affected the situation inside the party. In West Bengal two separate internal dissident tendencies emerged, which both could be identified as supporting the Chinese line.<ref>According to Basu (in Basu, Pradip; Towards Naxalbari (1953&ndash;67) : An Account Of Inner-Party Ideological Struggle. Calcutta: Progressive Publishers, 2000.) there were two nuclei of radicals in the party organisation in West Bengal. One "theorist" section around Parimal Das Gupta in Calcutta, which wanted to persuade the party leadership to correct revisionist mistakes through inner-party debate, and one "actionist" section led by [[Charu Majumdar]] and [[Kanu Sanyal]] in North Bengal. The 'actionists' were impatient, and strived to organize armed uprisings. According to Basu, due to the prevailing political climate of youth and student rebellion it was the 'actionists' which came to dominate the new Maoist movement in India, instead of the more theoretically advanced sections. This dichotomy is however rebuffed by followers of the radical stream, for example the [http://www.cpiml.org/liberation/year_2001/october/charu.htm CPI(ML) Liberation].</ref> In 1967 a peasant uprising broke out in [[Naxalbari]], in northern West Bengal. The insurgency was led by hardline district-level CPI(M) leaders [[Charu Majumdar]] and [[Kanu Sanyal]]. The hardliners within CPI(M) saw the Naxalbari uprising as the spark that would ignite the Indian revolution. The Communist Party of China hailed the Naxalbari movement, causing an abrupt break in CPI(M)-CPC relations.<ref>On [[July 1]] [[People's Daily]] carried an article titled [http://www.marxists.org/subject/china/documents/peoples-daily/1967/07/05.htm Spring Thunder Over India], expressing the support of CPC to the Naxalbari rebels. At its meeting in [[Madurai]] on August 18-27, 1967, the Central Committee of CPI(M) adopted a resolution titled 'Resolution on Divergent Views Between Our Party and the Communist Party of China on Certain Fundamental Issues of Programme and Policy'. Source: Bose, Shanti Shekar; A Brief Note on the Contents of Documents of the Communist Movement in India. Kolkata: 2005, National Book Agency, p. 46.</ref> The Naxalbari movement was violently repressed by the West Bengal government, of which CPI(M) was a major partner. Within the party, the hardliners rallied around an [[All India Coordination Committee of Communist Revolutionaries]]. Following the 1968 [[Burdwan]] plenum of CPI(M) (held on April 5-12, 1968), the AICCCR separated themselves from CPI(M). This split divided the party throughout the country. But notably in West Bengal, which was the centre of the violent radicalist stream, no prominent leading figure left the party. The party and the [[Naxalite]]s (as the rebels were called) were soon to get into a bloody feud.


P. Sundaraiah, after being released from jail, spent the period of September 1965 – February 1966 in Moscow for medical treatment. In Moscow, he also held talks with the CPSU.<ref name="rao17">{{harvnb|Rao|2003|pp=17–18}}.</ref>
In Andhra Pradesh another revolt was taking place. There the pro-Naxalbari dissidents had not established any presence. But in the party organisation there were many veterans from the Telangana armed struggle, who rallied against the central party leadership. In Andhra Pradesh the radicals had a strong base even amongst the state-level leadership. The main leader of the radical tendency was [[T. Nagi Reddy]], a member of the state legislative assembly. On [[June 15]], [[1968]] the leaders of the radical tendency published a press statement outlining the critique of the development of CPI(M). It was signed by T. Nagi Reddy, [[D.V. Rao]], [[Kolla Venkaiah]] and [[Chandra Pulla Reddy]].<ref>This press statement was reproduced in full in the central CPI(M) publication, People's Democracy, on [[June 30]]. P. Sundarayya and M. Basavapunniah, acting on behalf of the Polit Bureau of CPI(M), formulated a response to the statement on [[June 16]], titled 'Rebuff the Rebels, Uphold Party Unity'. Source: Bose, Shanti Shekar; A Brief Note on the Contents of Documents of the Communist Movement in India. Kolkata: 2005, National Book Agency, p. 48.</ref> In total around 50% of the party cadres in Andhra Pradesh left the party to form the [[Andhra Pradesh Coordination Committee of Communist Revolutionaries]], under the leadership of T. Nagi Reddy.<ref>Some perceive that the Chinese leadership severely misjudged the actual conditions of different Indian factions at the time, giving their full support to the Majumdar-Sanyal group whilst keeping the Andhra Pradesh radicals (that had a considerable mass following) at distance.</ref>


The Central Committee of CPI(M) held its first meeting on 12–19 June 1966. The reason for delaying the holding of a regular CC meeting was that several of the persons elected as CC members at the Calcutta Congress were jailed at the time.{{efn|The jailed members of the new CC, at the time of the Calcutta Congress, were [[B.T. Ranadive]], [[Muzaffar Ahmed (politician)|Muzaffar Ahmed]], [[Hare Krishna Konar]], and [[Promode Dasgupta]].<ref>{{harvnb|Bose|2005|pp=44–45}}.</ref>}} A CC meeting had been scheduled to have been held in [[Thrissur]] during the last days of 1964, but had been canceled due to the wave of arrests against the party. The meeting discussed tactics for electoral alliances and concluded that the party should seek to form a broad electoral alliance with all non-reactionary opposition parties in West Bengal (i.e. all parties except [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]] and [[Swatantra Party]]). This decision was strongly criticized by the Communist Party of China (CPC), the [[Party of Labour of Albania]], the [[Communist Party of New Zealand]], and the radicals within the party itself. The line was changed at a National Council meeting in [[Jalandhar]] in October 1966, where it was decided that the party should only form alliances with select left parties.<ref>{{harvnb|Rao|2003|pp=234–235}}.</ref>
===Dismissal of United Front governments in West Bengal and Kerala===
In November 1967, the West Bengal United Front government was dismissed by the central government. Initially the Indian National Congress formed a minority government led by [[Prafulla Chandra Ghosh]], but that cabinet did not last long. Following the proclamation that the United Front government had been dislodged, a 48-hour hartal was effective throughout the state. After the fall of the Ghosh cabinet, the state was but under President's Rule. CPI(M) launched agitations against the interventions of the central government in West Bengal.


=== Naxalbari uprising (1967) ===
The 8th Party Congress of CPI(M) was held in [[Cochin]], Kerala, on December 23-29, 1968. On [[December 25]], [[1968]], whilst the congress was held, 42 [[Dalit]]s were burned alive in the Tamil village of Kilavenmani. The massacre was a retaliation from landlords after Dalit labourers had taken part in a CPI(M)-led agitation for higher wages.<ref>[http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1712/17121050.htm Dalits and land issues<!--Bot-generated title-->]</ref><ref>[http://nhrc.nic.in/Publications/NHRCJournal2002.pdf Untitled-1<!--Bot-generated title-->]</ref>
{{main|Naxalbari uprising}}
At this point, the party stood at crossroads. There were radical sections of the party who were wary of the increasing parliamentary focus of the party leadership, especially after the electoral victories in West Bengal and Kerala. Developments in China also affected the situation inside the party. In West Bengal, two separate internal dissident tendencies emerged, which both could be identified as supporting the Chinese line.{{efn|According to Basu,<ref name="autogenerated2000">{{harvnb|Basu|2000}}.{{page needed|date=November 2021}}</ref> there were two nuclei of radicals in the party organization in West Bengal. One "theorist" section around Parimal Das Gupta in Calcutta, which wanted to persuade the party leadership to correct revisionist mistakes through inner-party debate, and one "actionist" section led by [[Charu Majumdar]] and [[Kanu Sanyal]] in North Bengal. The 'actionists' were impatient and strived to organize armed uprisings. According to Basu, due to the prevailing political climate of youth and student rebellion, it was the 'actionists' who came to dominate the new Maoist movement in India, instead of the more theoretically advanced sections. This dichotomy is however rebuffed by followers of the radical stream, for example, the CPI(ML) Liberation.<ref name="autogenerated2000"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.archive.cpiml.org/liberation/year_2001/october/charu.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927013802/http://www.cpiml.org/liberation/year_2001/october/charu.htm|url-status=dead|title=Untitled Document|archivedate=27 September 2007|website=www.archive.cpiml.org}}</ref>}}


In 1967, a peasant uprising broke out in [[Naxalbari]], in northern West Bengal. The insurgency was led by hardline district-level CPI(M) leaders [[Charu Majumdar]] and [[Kanu Sanyal]]. The hardliners within CPI(M) saw the Naxalbari uprising as the spark that would ignite the Indian revolution. The CPC hailed the Naxalbari movement, causing an abrupt break in CPI(M)-CPC relations.{{efn|On 1 July, ''[[People's Daily]]'' carried an article titled "Spring Thunder Over India",<ref>{{cite news |title=Spring Thunder Over India |url=http://www.marxists.org/subject/china/documents/peoples-daily/1967/07/05.htm |work=People's Daily |date=1 July 1967 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070223115803/http://www.marxists.org/subject/china/documents/peoples-daily/1967/07/05.htm |archive-date=23 February 2007}}</ref> expressing the support of CPC to the Naxalbari rebels. At its meeting in [[Madurai]] on 18–27 August 1967, the Central Committee of CPI(M) adopted a resolution titled "Resolution on Divergent Views Between Our Party and the Communist Party of China on Certain Fundamental Issues of Programme and Policy".<ref>{{harvnb|Bose|2005|p=46}}.</ref>}}
The United Front government in Kerala was forced out of office in October 1969, as the CPI, RSP, KTP and Muslim League ministers resigned. E.M.S. Namboodiripad handed in his resignation on [[October 24]].<ref>[http://www.kerala.gov.in/knowkerala/political.htm officialwebsite of kerala.gov.in<!--Bot-generated title-->]</ref> A coalition government led by CPI leader [[C. Achutha Menon]] was formed, with the outside support of the [[Indian National Congress]].


The Naxalbari movement was violently repressed by the West Bengal government, of which CPI(M) was a major partner. Within the party, the hardliners rallied around an [[All India Coordination Committee of Communist Revolutionaries]]. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/research/51-years-of-naxalbari-how-a-peasant-uprising-triggered-a-pan-india-political-movement-5191046/|title=Naxalbari: How a peasant uprising triggered a pan-India political movement|date=25 May 2018 |access-date=22 March 2024}}</ref> Following the 1968 [[Burdwan]] plenum of CPI(M) (held on 5–12 April 1968), the AICCCR separated itself from CPI(M).<ref name="NaxalismHistory">{{cite news | url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/nm2/history-of-naxalism/article1-6545.aspx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121035708/http://www.hindustantimes.com/nm2/history-of-naxalism/article1-6545.aspx | url-status=dead | archive-date=21 January 2015 | title=History of Naxalism | work=Hindustan Times | date=15 December 2005 | agency=[[Press Trust of India]] | accessdate=10 August 2015}}</ref> This split divided the party throughout the country. But notably in West Bengal, which was the center of the violent radicalized stream, no prominent leading figure left the party. The party and the [[Naxalite–Maoist insurgency|Naxalites]] (as the rebels were called) were soon to get into a bloody feud.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.orfonline.org/research/half-a-century-of-india-s-maoist-insurgency-an-appraisal-of-state-response|title=Half a century of India's Maoist insurgency: An appraisal of state response|access-date=23 March 2024}}</ref>
===Elections in West Bengal and Kerala===


In Andhra Pradesh, another revolt was taking place. There the pro-Naxalbari dissidents had not established any presence. But in the party organization, there were many veterans from the Telangana armed struggle, who rallied against the central party leadership. In Andhra Pradesh, the radicals had a strong base even amongst the state-level leadership. The main leader of the radical tendency was [[T. Nagi Reddy]], a member of the state legislative assembly. On 15 June 1968, the leaders of the radical tendency published a press statement outlining the critique of the development of CPI(M). It was signed by T. Nagi Reddy, D.V. Rao, Kolla Venkaiah, and [[Chandra Pulla Reddy]].{{efn|This press statement was reproduced in full in the central CPI(M) publication, People's Democracy, on 30 June. P. Sundarayya and M. Basavapunniah, acting on behalf of the Polit Bureau of CPI(M), formulated a response to the statement on 16 June, titled 'Rebuff the Rebels, Uphold Party Unity'.<ref>{{harvnb|Bose|2005|p=48}}.</ref>}}
Fresh elections were held in West Bengal in 1969. CPI(M) contested 97 seats, and won 80. The party was now the largest in the West Bengal legislative.<ref>Indian National Congress had won 55 seats, Bangla Congress 33 and CPI 30. CPI(M) allies also won several seats.[http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1969/StatReport_WB_69.pdf ECI: Statistical Report on the 1969 West Bengal Legislative Election]</ref> But with the active support of CPI and the Bangla Congress, Ajoy Mukherjee was returned as Chief Minister of the state. Mukherjee resigned on [[March 16]], [[1970]], after a pact had been reached between CPI, Bangla Congress and the Indian National Congress against CPI(M). CPI(M) strove to form a new government, instead but the central government put the state under President's Rule.


In total, around 50% of the party cadres in Andhra Pradesh left the party to form the [[Andhra Pradesh Coordination Committee of Communist Revolutionaries]], under the leadership of T. Nagi Reddy.{{efn|Some perceive that the Chinese leadership severely misjudged the actual conditions of different Indian factions at the time, giving their full support to the Majumdar-Sanyal group whilst keeping the Andhra Pradesh radicals (that had a considerable mass following) at distance.}}
In Kerala fresh elections were held in 1970. CPI(M) contested 73 seats and won 29. After the election Achutha Menon formed a new ministry, including ministers from the Indian National Congress.


=== Dismissal of United Front governments in West Bengal and Kerala (1967–1970) ===
===Formation of CITU===
[[File:Hammer and Sickle - Kerala.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A tableau in a CPI(M) rally in Kerala, India showing two farmers forming the [[hammer and sickle]].]]
[[Image:CPM.jpg|thumb|2004 election mural for CPI(M) candidate [[Sujan Chakraborty]] in [[Jadavpur]]]]
In November 1967, the West Bengal United Front government was dismissed by the central government. Initially, the Indian National Congress formed a minority government led by [[Prafulla Chandra Ghosh]], but that cabinet did not last long.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/bengal-a-long-history-of-governor-state-govt-conflict-769101.html|title=Bengal: A long history of Governor-state govt conflict|access-date=24 March 2024}}</ref> Following the proclamation that the United Front government had been dislodged, a 48-hour hartal was effective throughout the state.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41854471|title=The Role of Governor in Indian Politics Since 1967|jstor=41854471 |access-date=24 March 2024 |last1=Chatterjee |first1=Sibranjan |journal=The Indian Journal of Political Science |date=30 May 1971 |volume=32 |issue=4 |pages=522–535 }}</ref> After the fall of the Ghosh cabinet, the state was put under President's Rule. CPI(M) launched agitations against the interventions of the central government in West Bengal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcrg.ac.in/PP93.pdf|title=The left movement in West Bengal|access-date=23 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/politics/india-at-75-epochal-moments-1967-naxalbari-movement/article65721597.ece|title=1967: Naxalbari movement|date=12 August 2022 |access-date=23 March 2024}}</ref>
Following the 1964 split, CPI(M) cadres had remained active with the [[All India Trade Union Congress]]. But as relations between CPI and CPI(M) soured, with the backdrop of confrontations in West Bengal and Kerala, a split also surfaced in the AITUC. In December 1969, eight CPI(M) members walked out of an AITUC Working Committee meeting. The eight called for an All India Trade Union Convention, which was held in [[Goa]] April 9-10, 1970. The convention decided that an All India Trade Union Conference be held on May 28-31 in Calcutta. The Calcutta conference would be the founding conference of the [[Centre of Indian Trade Unions]], a new pro-CPI(M) trade union movement.<ref>Bose, Shanti Shekar; A Brief Note on the Contents of Documents of the Communist Movement in India. Kolkata: 2005, National Book Agency, p. 56-59</ref>


The 8th Party Congress of CPI(M) was held in [[Kochi]], Kerala, on 23–29 December 1968. On 25 December 1968, whilst the congress was held, 42 [[Dalit]]s were [[Kilvenmani massacre|burned alive]] in the [[Tamil Nadu]] village of [[Kizhavenmani]]. The massacre was a retaliation from landlords after Dalit labourers had taken part in a CPI(M)-led agitation for higher wages.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/magazine/issue/vol17-12/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080223113220/http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1712/17121050.htm |url-status=dead |title=Latest Volume17-Issue12 News, Photos, Latest News Headlines about Volume17-Issue12 |archive-date=23 February 2008 |website=Frontline}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://nhrc.nic.in/Publications/NHRCJournal2002.pdf |title=Untitled-1<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=27 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023515/http://nhrc.nic.in/Publications/NHRCJournal2002.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>
===Outbreak of war in East Pakistan===
In 1971 [[Bangladesh]] (formerly [[East Pakistan]]) declared its independence from [[Pakistan]]. The Pakistani military tried to quell the uprising. India intervened militarily and gave active backing to the [[Mukti Bahini|Bangladeshi resistance]]. Millions of Bangladeshi refugees sought shelter in India, especially in West Bengal.


The United Front government in Kerala was forced out of office in October 1969, as the CPI, RSP, KTP, and Muslim League ministers resigned. E.M.S. Namboodiripad handed in his resignation on 24 October.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kerala.gov.in/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060805205314/http://www.kerala.gov.in/knowkerala/political.htm |url-status=dead |title=Home – Government of Kerala, India |archive-date=5 August 2006 |website=kerala.gov.in}}</ref> A coalition government led by CPI leader [[C. Achutha Menon]] was formed, with the outside support of the [[Indian National Congress]].
At the time the radical sections of the Bangladeshi communist movement was divided into many [[Political factions|faction]]s. Whilst the pro-Soviet [[Communist Party of Bangladesh]] actively participated in the resistance struggle, the pro-China communist tendency found itself in a peculiar situation as China had sided with Pakistan in the war. In Calcutta, where many Bangladeshi leftists had sought refugee, CPI(M) worked to coordinate the efforts to create a new political organization. In the fall of 1971 three small groups, which were all hosted by the CPI(M), came together to form the [[Bangladesh Communist Party (Leninist)]]. The new party became the sister party of CPI(M) in Bangladesh.<ref>The same is also true for the [[Workers Party of Bangladesh]], which was formed in 1980 when BCP(L) merged with other groups. Although politically close, WPB can be said to have a more Maoist-oriented profile than CPI(M).</ref>


==== Elections in West Bengal and Kerala ====
===1971 General Election===
Fresh elections were held in West Bengal in 1969. CPI(M) contested 97 seats and won 80. The party was now the largest in the West Bengal legislative.{{efn|Indian National Congress had won 23 seats, Bangla Congress 33, and CPI 30. CPI(M) allies also won several seats.<ref group="e">{{cite report |title=Statistical Report on General Election, 1969 to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal |url=http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1969/StatReport_WB_69.pdf |work=[[Election Commission of India]] |location=New Delhi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071129141351/http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1969/StatReport_WB_69.pdf |archive-date=29 November 2007 |language=en-IN}}{{page needed|date=November 2021}}</ref>}} But with the active support of CPI and the [[Bangla Congress]], [[Ajoy Mukherjee]] was returned as Chief Minister of the state. Mukherjee resigned on 16 March 1970, after a pact had been reached between CPI, Bangla Congress, and the Indian National Congress against CPI(M). CPI(M) strove to form a new government, instead but the central government put the state under President's Rule.
[[Image:Martyrscolumnharipada.jpg|thumb|align=right|Martyrs Column in Haripad, Kerala]]
With the backdrop of the Bangladesh War and the emerging role of [[Indira Gandhi]] as a populist national leader, the 1971 election to the [[Lok Sabha]] was held. CPI(M) contested 85 seats, and won in 25. In total the party mustered 7510089 votes (5.12% of the national vote). 20 of the seats came from West Bengal (including [[Somnath Chatterjee]], elected from Burdwan), 2 from Kerala (including A.K. Gopalan, elected from Trichur), 2 from Tripura (Biren Dutta and [[Dasarath Deb]]) and 1 from Andhra Pradesh.<ref>[http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/LS_1971/Vol_I_LS71.pdf ECI: Statistical Report on the 1971 Lok Sabha Election]</ref>


=== Land Reform ===
In the same year, state legislative elections were held in three states; West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Orissa. In West Bengal CPI(M) had 241 candidates, winning 113 seats. In total the party mustered 4241557 votes (32.86% of the state-wide vote). In Tamil Nadu CPI(M) contested 37 seats, but drew blank. The party got 259298 votes (1.65% of the state-wide vote). In Orissa the party contested 11 seats, and won in two. The CPI(M) vote in the state was 52785 (1.2% of the state-wide vote).<ref>[http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1971/StatReport_OR_71.pdf ECI: Statistical Report on the 1971 Orissa Legislative Election], [http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1971/StatReport_TN_71.pdf ECI: Statistical Report on the 1971 Tamil Nadu Legislative Election], [http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1971/StatReport_WB_71.pdf ECI: Statistical Report on the 1971 West Bengal Legislative Election]</ref>
{{main|Operation Barga}}
Though land reform was successfully done in three [[India]]n states ([[West Bengal]], [[Kerala]], and [[Tamil Nadu]]), India's first land reform was done in [[West Bengal]] in 1967, under the leadership of two Communist leaders: [[Hare Krishna Konar]] and [[Benoy Choudhury]], in which [[Hare Krishna Konar]] played a leading role in getting surplus land held by big land owners in excess of land ceiling laws and kept ‘benami' (or false names) vested with the state. The quantum of land thus vested was around one million acres (4,000 km2) of good agricultural land. Subsequently, under the leadership of [[Hare Krishna Konar]] and [[Benoy Choudhury]] land was distributed amongst 2.4 million landless and poor farmers. Later after 1970 the united front government of west Bengal fail and the land reform was also stopped for seven years and after left front came in West Bengal in 1977 this land reform was renamed to [[Operation Barga]] and this barga was the notable contribution to the people from [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] Government of West Bengal. To begin with, group meetings between Officials and Bargadars were organized during "settlement camps" (also called "Reorientation camps"), where the bargadars could discuss their grievances. The first such camp was held at Halusai in Polba taluk in [[Hooghly district]] from 18 to 20 May 1978. In noted camp, two Adibashi Borgaders objected procedure adopted by the official for [[Operation Barga|Barga]] Operation. They suggested to start it organising people in the field instead of sitting in the houses of rural rich people or the places dominated by them.<ref name="TEAM">[http://team.univ-paris1.fr/teamperso/DEA/Cursus/M1/Doc4%20Operation%20Barga.pdf Operation Barga] – report by ''Theorie Et Applications en Microeconomie et Macroeconomie'' ('''TEAM''') ([https://web.archive.org/web/20061118154131/http://team.univ-paris1.fr/teamperso/DEA/Cursus/M1/Doc4%20Operation%20Barga.pdf Read online]).</ref><ref name="Paramjit">Paramjit Singh, Gurpreet Bal, [https://books.google.com/books?id=7lKM4aWhIH0C&dq=%22Operation+Barga%22+camp&pg=PA148 Strategies of Social Change in India], pp. 148, M.D. Publications, 1996. {{ISBN|81-7533-006-6}}, {{ISBN|978-81-7533-006-1}}.</ref><ref name="Chaudhary ToI">Pranava K. Chaudhary, [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/operation-barga-ends-in-a-whimper/articleshow/22105421.cms Operation Barga ends in a whimper], ''[[Times of India]]'', 14 September 2002.</ref>


=== Formation of CITU (1970) ===
===1970s, 1980s, 1990s===
{{main|Centre of Indian Trade Unions}}
{{Expand|date=February 2007}}
'''Centre of Indian Trade Unions''', CITU is a National level [[Trade Union]] in India and its trade union wing is a spearhead of the Indian Trade Union Movement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://citucentre.org/|title=Centre of Indian Trade Unions|access-date=23 March 2024}}</ref> The Centre of Indian Trade Unions is today one of biggest assembly of workers and classes of India. It has strong unchallengeable presence in the [[States and territories of India|Indian state]] of Tripura besides a good presence in [[West Bengal]], Kerala and [[Kanpur]]. They have an average presence in [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Andhra Pradesh]].
In the 1977 election, the CPI(M) gained the majority in the Legislative Assembly of the State of [[West Bengal]], defeating the Congress (I). Jyoti Basu became the chief minister of West Bengal, an office he held until his retirement in 2000. The CPI(M) has held the majority in the West Bengal government continuously since 1977.
===Controversies===
====2007 Nandigram conflict====
{{main|Nandigram violence}}
In January 2007 the controversies over the economic policies of the West Bengal government were brought to the fore in the [[Nandigram violence|Nandigram dispute]] in which farmers in the [[Nandigram]] area protested against an alleged government plan to enact compulsory purchase of their farmland to make way for a petrochemical complex proposed by the [[Indonesia]]n [[Salim Group]]. On February 17-18 the CPI(M) politburo intervened in the issue and halted the founding of SEZs until the SEZ Act would have been revised.<ref>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070219/nation.htm The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Nation<!--Bot-generated title-->]</ref> On [[March 14]], [[2007]], 14 villagers were killed and 70 were wounded as 4,000 heavily armed police entered the area on command of the Left Front government. The killings led to heavy criticism of the CPI(M) from opposition parties, other sections of the left and NGOs. In the ensuing violence, CPI(M) cadres and sympathisers were driven away from the area, CPI(M) sources claimed that 2,000 of their followers had to live in nearby refugee camps. Throughout 2007, CPI(M) and opposition parties traded mutual allegations of killings and other violent crimes. Violence flared up again in November 2007, as hundreds of CPI(M) followers re-entered the barricaded areas in Nandigram.
====Corruption charge====
[http://cag.nic.in/ The Comptroller and Auditor General of India], in a report said that Pinaryi Vijayan (member of Politburo and Kerala state secretary of CPI(M)) had struck a deal as electricity minister of Kerala in 1998 with [[SNC Lavalin scandal|SNC Lavalin]], a Canadian firm, for the repair of three generators, which was a huge fraud and had cost the state exchequer a staggering Rs 3.76 billion. On 16th January 2007, Kerala High Court ordered a [[CBI]] enquiry into the SNC Lavalin case.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/businessline/blnus/27161507.htm |title=Kearala to go by HC order in Lavalin case |publisher=The Hindu Business Line}}</ref>. On 21st January 2009, CBI filed a progress report on the investigation in the Kerala high court. Pinarayi Vijayan has been named as the 9th accused in the case. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/CBI_finds_Pinarayi_guilty_in_Lavalin_scam_moralistic_CPM_yet_to_act/articleshow/4014521.cms| title=CBI finds Pinarayi guilty in Lavalin scam, moralistic CPM yet to act}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/cbi-seeks-nod-to-prosecute-cpms-kerala-unit-chief/413768/|title=CBI seeks nod to prosecute CPM’s Kerala unit chief}}</ref>. CPM has backed Vijayan saying the case is politically motivated<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/CPM_backs_Pinarayi_Vijayan_says_CBI_move_is_politically_motivated/articleshow/4018616.cms
| title = CPM backs Pinarayi Vijayan, says CBI move is politically motivated
| date = 23 January 2009
| publisher = [[The Times of India]]
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
| url = http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Does_C_in_CPM_mean_corruption/articleshow/4034604.cms
| title = Does C in CPM mean corruption?
| date = 27 January 2009
| publisher = [[The Economic Times]]
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
| url = http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/CPM_conspiracy_theory_falls_flat_in_face_of_facts/articleshow/4031752.cms
| title = CPM conspiracy theory falls flat in face of facts
| date = 27 January 2009
| publisher = [[The Economic Times]]
}}</ref>.


[[File:Communist parade (6297059793).jpg|thumb|left|A [[Centre of Indian Trade Unions|CITU]] rally in [[Pondicherry]].]] According to the provisional statistics from the [[Ministry of Labour and Employment (India)|Ministry of Labour]], CITU had a membership of approximately 6,040,000 in 2015.<ref>{{cite news |date=26 March 2018 |title=CITU plans to expand its base in IT sector |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/citu-plans-to-expand-its-base-in-it-sector/article23358181.ece |access-date=4 December 2020 |issn=0971-751X |language=en-IN}}</ref>
===Criticism===
The CPI(M) faces criticism from leftwing sectors regarding its governance policies.<ref name=autogenerated1>"Reflections in the Aftermath of Nandigram. Article written by a "CPI(M) supporter"- Economic and Political Weekly[http://www.epw.org.in/epw/uploads/articles/10564.pdf]</ref> Some CPI(M) insiders have also raised questions about CPI(M) compromising with corporate interests. Budhadeb Bhattacharya's own cabinet minister (Land Reform Minister) and CPI(M) leader [[Abdul Razzak Mollah]] opposed Buddhadeb's supposedly "[[neo-liberal]]" line.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} He opposed the provisions of the land acquisition bill in the West Bengal state assembly. Former West Bengal finance minister and former CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member [[Dr. Ashok Mitra]] also expressed his disagreements with what he sees as CPI(M)'s ideological shift towards economic liberalisation.


[[Tapan Kumar Sen]] is the General Secretary and [[K. Hemalata]] is the president of CITU. K. Hemalata was the first woman President in CITU who was elected after [[A. K. Padmanabhan]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2016/state-editions/a-first-woman-elected-citu-president.html |title=A first: Woman elected CITU president |work=The Pioneer |access-date=31 July 2019}}</ref> It runs a monthly organ named ''WORKING CLASS''.
In Kerala, [[M. N. Vijayan|Prof. M.N. Vijayan]], former editor of the CPI(M) owned “Deshabhimani weekly”, argued that CPI(M) policies are now influenced by [[neoliberalism]] and rebelled against the influence of foreign fund on party functioning, influence of capital in the cultural field, and attempt to replace class politics with that of [[identity politics]].<ref>"Kerala Intra-party differences". Article in Economic and Political Weekly. [http://www.epw.org.in/epw/uploads/articles/1900.pdf]</ref> Under M.N. Vijayan's leadership, in Kerala Adhinivesa Prathirodha Samithi (Council for Resisting Imperialist Globalisation), was formed.<ref>Mainstream article about M.N.Vijayan and Council for resisting Imperialist Globalization.[http://www.mainstreamweekly.net/article386.html]</ref>


CITU is affiliated to the [[World Federation of Trade Unions]].<ref>World Federation of Trade Unions. ''[http://www.wftucentral.org/indian-trade-union-delegation-visits-venezuelan-embassy-in-new-delhi/ Indian Trade Union Delegation visits Venezuelan Embassy in New Delhi]''</ref>
[[Prabhat Patnaik]], a CPI(M) economist, has also questioned the influence of the logic of industrialisation using the Grande Industry route as being the sine qua non of industrial policy in West Bengal.<ref>"In the aftermath of Nandigram" article by Prabhat Patnaik, CPI(M) Economist and Party Member. Mr. Patnaik is the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman of CPI(M)led Kerala Govt. [http://www.epw.org.in/epw/uploads/articles/10646.pdf]</ref>.<ref name=autogenerated1 />


=== Outbreak of war in East Pakistan (1971–1972) ===
==Party Organization==
{{main|Bangladesh Communist Party (Leninist)}}
CPI(M) got 5.66% of votes polled in last [[2004 Lok Sabha elections|parliamentary election]] (May 2004) and it has 43 MPs. It won 42.31% on an average in the 69 seats it contested. It supported the new [[Indian National Congress]]-led [[United Progressive Alliance]] government, but without becoming a part of it. On [[9 July]] [[2008]] it formally withdrew support from the UPA government explaining this by differences about the Indo-US nuclear deal and the IAEA Safeguards Agreement in particular.<ref>article in [[The Hindu]], [[9 July]] [[2008]]: [http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200807091250.htm Left meets President, hands over letter of withdrawal]</ref>
In 1971, [[Bangladesh]] (formerly [[East Pakistan]]) declared its independence from [[Pakistan]]. The Pakistani military tried to quell the uprising. India intervened militarily and gave active backing to the [[Mukti Bahini|Bangladeshi rebels]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2019/12/16/remembering-the-war-of-1971-in-east-pakistan|title=Remembering the war of 1971 in East Pakistan|access-date=23 March 2024}}</ref> Millions of Bangladeshi refugees sought shelter in India, especially in West Bengal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/sarkari-thoughts/treatment-of-the-1971-east-bengali-refugees-a-forgotten-experience/|title=Treatment of the 1971 East Bengali refugees: A forgotten experience|newspaper=The Times of India |access-date=23 March 2024 |last1=Sarkar |first1=Dr Subhradipta }}</ref>


At the time, the radical sections of the Bangladeshi communist movement were divided into many [[Political faction|factions]]. Whilst the pro-Soviet [[Communist Party of Bangladesh]] actively participated in the rebellion, the pro-China communist tendency found itself in a peculiar situation as China had sided with Pakistan in the war. In Calcutta, where many Bangladeshi leftists had sought refuge, CPI(M) worked to co-ordinate the efforts to create a new political organization. In the fall of 1971 three small groups, which were all hosted by the CPI(M), came together to form the [[Bangladesh Communist Party (Leninist)]]. The new party became the sister party of CPI(M) in Bangladesh.{{efn|The same is also true for the [[Workers Party of Bangladesh]], which was formed in 1980 when BCP(L) merged with other groups. Although politically close, WPB can be said to have a more Maoist-oriented profile than CPI(M).}}
In [[West Bengal]] and [[Tripura]] it participates in the [[Left Front]]. In [[Kerala]] the party is part of the [[Left Democratic Front]]. In [[Tamil Nadu]] it was part of the ruling Democratic Progressive Alliance led by the [[DMK]]. However, it has since withdrawn support.


=== Boycott of Assembly and Emergency rule (1972–1977) ===
Its members in [[Great Britain]] are in the electoral front [[Unity for Peace and Socialism]] with the [[Communist Party of Britain]] and the British domiciled sections of the [[Communist Party of Bangladesh]] and the [[Communist Party of Greece]] (KKE). It is standing 13 candidates in the London-wide list section of the [[Greater London Assembly]] (GLA) elections in May 2008.<ref>[http://ufps.org.uk/ Unity For Peace and Socialism homepage]</ref>
In 1975, the [[Prime Minister of India]], Indira Gandhi imposed a [[State of emergency]] on the premise of internal disturbances suspending elections, legitimising [[rule by decree]] and curbing [[civil liberties]].<ref name=":66">{{cite journal |last=Prashad |first=Vijay |date=1996 |title=Emergency Assessments |journal=Social Scientist |volume=24 |issue=9/10 |pages=36–68 |doi=10.2307/3520142 |jstor=3520142 |issn=0970-0293}}</ref> The proposition for the declaration of the emergency and the formal draft of the ordinance were both notably corroborated to have been forwarded by [[Siddhartha Shankar Ray]].<ref>{{cite web |last=C G |first=Manoj |date=13 June 2015 |title=S S Ray to Indira Gandhi six months before Emergency: Crack down, get law ready |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/six-months-before-emergency-s-s-ray-to-indira-gandhi-crack-down-get-law-ready/ |website=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Narayan |first=S. |date=25 June 2020 |title=Why Did Indira Gandhi Impose Emergency In 1975? |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/hans/opinion/news-analysis/why-did-indira-gandhi-impose-emergency-in-1975-630015 |website=[[The Hans India]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Jacob |first=Jack Farj Rafael |title=An Odyssey in War and Peace: An Autobiography of Lt. Gen JFR Jacob |publisher=[[Roli Books]] |year=2012 |isbn=9788174369338 |page=189 |author-link=J. F. R. Jacob}}</ref> The Communist Party of India (Marxist) emerged as one of the primary opposition to [[The Emergency (India)]].<ref name=":66" /> The following period witnessed a succession of [[Authoritarianism|authoritarian]] measures and political repression, which was particularly severe in West Bengal.<ref>{{cite book |last=DeSouza |first=Peter Ronald |title=India's Political Parties |date=3 October 2006 |publisher=SAGE Publishing India |isbn=978-93-5280-534-1 |pages=217–221}}</ref> The members of the CPI-M's labour union became the first subject to political repression and [[mass arrest]]s while the rest of the members of the CPI-M went underground.<ref name=":582">{{cite book |last=Ruparelia |first=Sanjay |title=Divided We Govern: Coalition Politics in Modern India |year=2015 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-026491-8 |pages=71–72}}</ref>


With the initiation of the [[Jayaprakash Narayan]] (JP)'s movement, the CPI-M began providing support to it and went on to participate in discussions for the creation of a united front under the umbrella of the [[Janata Party]]. Several of the leaders of the CPI-M were also influenced by JP with [[Jyoti Basu]] noted to be one of his prominent admirers having worked under him in the [[All India Railwaymen's Federation]] during the 1940s.<ref name=":582" /> The involvement of the [[Hindutva]] movement however complicated matters, according to JP the formal inclusion of the marxists who had undergone a splintering and whose organisation was localised in particular region would have been detrimental to the movement as the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] members would switch sides if they joined.<ref name=":582" /><ref>{{cite book |last=Prakash |first=Gyan |author-link=Gyan Prakash |title=Emergency Chronicles: Indira Gandhi and Democracy's Turning Point |date=8 December 2018 |publisher=[[Princeton University Press]] |isbn=978-93-5305-351-2}}</ref> JP and Basu eventually came to an agreement that the CPI-M would not formally join the Janata Party as it would weaken the movement.<ref name=":582" /> After the revocation of the emergency, the CPI-M joined an electoral alliance with the Janata Party in the [[1977 Indian general election]] which resulted in an overwhelming victory for the Janata Alliance.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Blair |first=Harry W. |date=April 1980 |title=Mrs Gandhi's Emergency, The Indian Elections of 1977, Pluralism and Marxism: Problems with Paradigms |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/modern-asian-studies/article/mrs-gandhis-emergency-the-indian-elections-of-1977-pluralism-and-marxism-problems-with-paradigms/908EF9B139D645655C3336A4D17F2FAE |journal=Modern Asian Studies |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=237–271 |doi=10.1017/S0026749X00007320 |s2cid=144182647 |issn=1469-8099}}</ref>
===Membership===

[[Image:Cpmcongress (87).JPG|thumb|CPI(M) 18th Congress rally in [[Delhi]]]]
=== Left Front Government formation in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura assembly (1977 afterwards) ===
[[Image:Cpmrallyagartala (34).JPG|thumb|CPI(M) rally in [[Agartala]]]]
==== West Bengal ====
[[Image:Kerala communist tableaux.jpg|thumb|right|100px|A tableaux in a CPI(M) rally in [[Kerala]], [[India]] showing two farmers forming the [[hammer and sickle]], the most famous communist symbol.]]As of 2004, the party claimed a membership of 867 763.<ref>Membership figures from http://www.cpim.org/pd/2005/0403/04032005_membership.htm. Electorate numbers taken from http://www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/LS_2004/Vol_I_LS_2004.pdf. [[Puducherry]] is counted as part of Tamil Nadu, [[Chandigarh]] counted as part of Punjab.</ref>
{{Main|Communist Party of India (Marxist), West Bengal}}
{|class="wikitable sortable"
{{multiple image
!'''State'''
| align = right
!2001
| caption_align = center
!2002
| direction = vertical
!2003
| width = 200
!2004
| image1 = Jyoti Basu - Calcutta 1996-12-21 089 Cropped.png
!% of party<br>members in<br>electorate
| caption1 = '''[[Jyoti Basu]]'''<br />Longest serving [[List of chief ministers of West Bengal|Chief Minister of West Bengal]]
}}
[[Communist Party of India (Marxist), West Bengal|CPI(M) West Bengal]] under the leadership of Jyoti Basu fought the [[1977 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]]. Initially the election was planned to fight in alliance with the [[Janata Party]] but the negotiations between the parties broke down. <ref>{{cite web |last=Mahaprashasta |first=Ajoy Ashirwad |date=4 May 2016 |title=Why Has Nobody Called It Yet? An Analysis of the West Bengal Elections |url=https://thewire.in/politics/why-has-nobody-called-it-yet-an-analysis-of-the-west-bengal-elections |website=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]]}}</ref> This led to a three sided contested between the [[Indian National Congress]], the Janata Party and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) led [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front coalition]]. The results of the election was a surprising sweep for the Left Front winning 230 seats out of 290 with the CPI-M winning an absolute majority on its own, Basu became the [[List of chief ministers of West Bengal|Chief Minister of West Bengal]]. From the 1977 election the CPI(M) led [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] won 7 continuous elections till 2011. Under Jyoti Basu's leadership the [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] won, [[1977 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1977]], [[1982 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1982]], [[1987 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1987]], [[1991 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1991]], [[1996 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1996]] elections. For the next 23 years he was the [[List of chief ministers of West Bengal|Chief Minister of West Bengal]] making him longest serving at this position. <ref>{{cite web |date=19 January 2010 |title=Jyoti Basu pulls in the crowds – one last time |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/kolkata/jyoti-basu-pulls-in-the-crowds-one-last-time/story-ExpoMM4jnIE9pvIvqLQN9H.html |work=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref>

In the late 2000s the [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] saw a change in leadership. Under the leadership of [[Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee]], the Left Front won the elections of [[2001 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2001]] elections and [[2006 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2006]]. From 2000 to 2011, remained the [[List of chief ministers of West Bengal|Chief Minister of West Bengal]] for 11 years.

Following the events of [[Nandigram violence|2007 Nandigram anti land acquisition violence]]<ref name="aljaz">{{Cite news |last=Bhaumik |first=Subir |date=2011-05-13 |title=Defeat rocks India's elected communists - Features |url=http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/05/2011513143311330487.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005063541/http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/05/2011513143311330487.html |archive-date=2011-10-05 |access-date=2011-10-16 |work=[[Al Jazeera English]]}}</ref> and the [[Tata Nano Singur controversy|2006 Singur anti land acquisition violence]], led by opposition parties in West Bengal. In the [[2011 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2011 assembly election]] lost the elections marking the end of 34-year rule of [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]], the longest-serving democratically elected communist government in the world, a fact that was noted by international media.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://results.eci.gov.in/|title=Result &#124; Home|website=results.eci.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-05-12 |title=India: Mamata Banerjee routs communists in West Bengal |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-13374646 |access-date=2024-01-16 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> After [[2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2021 elections]] the Left Front has no representatives in the [[West Bengal Legislative Assembly]].

==== Kerala ====
{{Main|Communist Party of India (Marxist), Kerala}}
{{multiple image
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| image1 = EMS Namboodiripad 2001 stamp of India (cropped) 1.jpg
| caption1 = '''[[E.M.S. Namboodiripad]]'''<br /> 1st [[Chief minister of Kerala]].
}}
After the [[1964 split in the Communist Party of India|CPI split in 1964]], prominent communist leader in Kerala [[E.M.S. Namboodiripad]], [[A. K. Gopalan]] and [[K. R. Gouri Amma]] stood with the Communist Party of India (Marxist). One year after the split, in the [[1965 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1965 elections]] CPI(M) which was splinter faction of CPI, emerged as the largest party in the assembly with 40 seats. Where CPI settled with 3 seats only. However no single party could form a ministry commanding majority and hence this election is considered abortive. [[President's rule]] was invoked for the fourth time.<ref name="KeralaLegislature">{{cite web | url=http://kerala.gov.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3776:history-of-kerala-legislature | title=History of Kerala Legislature | publisher=Kerala Government | access-date=30 July 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006101549/http://kerala.gov.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3776%3Ahistory-of-kerala-legislature | archive-date=2014-10-06 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1965 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF KERALA |url=http://www.ceo.kerala.gov.in/pdf/KLA/KL_1965_ST_REP.pdf |website=www.ceo.kerala.gov.in |publisher=ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA NEW DELHI }}</ref>

In the [[1967 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1967 Kerala assembly election]] both communist parties - CPI (M) and CPI - along with smaller parties including SSP and Muslim League contested this election as a United Front. A total of seven parties contested in the front, and the front was known as ''[[Saptakakshi Munnani]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Koshi|first1=Luke|last2=Balan|first2=Saritha S.|date=2017-06-19|title=Kerala Chronicles: When a Coalition of Seven Political Parties Came Together Only to Fall Apart|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/kerala-chronicles-when-coalition-7-political-parties-came-together-only-fall-apart-63905|access-date=|website=The News Minute|language=en}}</ref> The CPI(M) led front won the election with a record 113 seats out of 133 seats and formed the government under [[E.M.S. Namboodiripad]].

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, two main pre-poll political alliances were formed: the [[Left Democratic Front]] (LDF) led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Communist Party of India and the United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the Indian National Congress. These pre-poll political alliances of Kerala have stabilized strongly in such a manner that, with rare exceptions, most of the coalition partners stick their loyalty to the respective alliances (Left Democratic Front or United Democratic Front).

LDF first came into power in [[Kerala Legislative Assembly]] in 1980 under the leadership of [[E. K. Nayanar]] who later became the longest serving [[List of chief ministers of Kerala|Chief minister of Kerala]], ever since [[1980 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1980 election]], the power has been clearly alternating between the two alliances till the [[2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2016]]. In 2016, LDF won the 2016 election and had a historic re-election in [[2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2021 election]] where an incumbent government was re-elected for first time in 40 years. [[Pinarayi Vijayan]] is the first chief minister of Kerala to be re-elected after completing a full term (five years) in office.<ref>{{cite news |title=LDF shatters Kerala's 40-year record, Pinarayi Vijayan now the Marxist Helmsman |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/assembly-elections/kerala/ldf-shatters-keralas-40-year-record-pinarayi-vijayan-now-the-marxist-helmsman/articleshow/82359214.cms?from=mdr |access-date=3 May 2021}}</ref>

==== Tripura ====
{{Main|Communist Party of India (Marxist), Tripura}}
{{multiple image
| align = right
| caption_align = center
| direction = vertical
| width = 200
| image1 = Manik Sarkar Official Portrait.jpg
| caption1 = '''[[Manik Sarkar]]'''<br /> Longest serving [[List of chief ministers of Tripura|Chief minister of Tripura]].
}}
Under the leadership of [[Nripen Chakraborty]], the CPI(M) led [[Left Front (Tripura)|Left Front]] won the [[1977 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|1977 assembly elections]]. [[Nripen Chakraborty]], became the first [[List of chief ministers of Tripura|Chief minister of Tripura]] from CPI(M). In the next [[1983 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|1983 assembly elections]] the incumbent government of Left Front was again re-elected and therefore it was in the government for 10 years.<ref name="Chakrabarty2014">{{cite book |author=Bidyut Chakrabarty |title=Left Radicalism in India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R0xWBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA88 |date=13 November 2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-66805-3 |pages=87–88}}</ref> In [[1988 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|1988 assembly elections]] CPI(M) was out of power for 5 years despite being the largest party by seats won. In [[1993 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|1993 assembly elections]], the [[Left Front (Tripura)|Left Front]] won the elections and [[Dasarath Deb]] sworn in as the [[List of chief ministers of Tripura|Chief minister of Tripura]].

From 1993 to 2013, the [[Left Front (Tripura)|Left Front]] won 5 elections continuously. Since the [[1998 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|1998 assembly elections]], [[Manik Sarkar]] was the [[List of chief ministers of Tripura|Chief minister of Tripura]] for 20 years making him the longest serving at the position in Tripura. Under his leadership the Left Front has won [[1998 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|1998]], [[2003 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|2003]], [[2008 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|2008]] and [[2013 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|2013]]. Currently, CPI(M) is the main opposition party in the [[Tripura Legislative Assembly]].

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) is the dominant party in the coalition.<ref name="Chakrabarty2014" /><ref name="Bareh2001">{{cite book |author=Hamlet Bareh |title=Encyclopaedia of North-East India: Tripura |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fk8kq9PUapkC&pg=PA58 |year=2001 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-795-5 |page=58}}</ref> The other four members of the Left Front are the Communist Party of India, the [[Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|Revolutionary Socialist Party]], the [[All India Forward Bloc]] and the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation]].<ref name="Rana2006">{{cite book |author=Mahendra Singh Rana |title=India Votes: Lok Sabha & Vidhan Sabha Elections 2001–2005 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yInZdHn-pKoC&pg=PA420 |year=2006 |publisher=Sarup & Sons |isbn=978-81-7625-647-6 |pages=420–421}}</ref>

=== International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties ===
{{Main|International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties}}
In 2009, CPI(M) hosted [[International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties#11th International Meeting, 2009|11th International Communist Parties Meeting]] in [[New Delhi]]. The summit was attended by 57 communist parties from 48 countries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.solidnet.org/11-international-meeting-of-communist-and-workers-parties/11-imcwp-press-communique|title=11 IMCWP, Press Communique|access-date=11 December 2014|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924103957/http://www.solidnet.org/11-international-meeting-of-communist-and-workers-parties/11-imcwp-press-communique}}</ref>

== Leadership and organisation ==

=== Leadership ===
<gallery mode="packed" caption="Old Gallery" style="font-size:88%; line-height:130%; border-bottom:1px #aaa solid;" heights="150">
CPI (M) Leaders. Noormahal. 27 Oct 1966.jpg|[[A. K. Gopalan]] (left), [[B. T. Ranadive]] (center), [[E.M.S. Namboodiripad]] (right) and [[Hare Krishna Konar|H. K. Konar]] (extreme right) with other leaders in Kolkata, 1966
EMS & JS Lyalpuri. Noor Mahal. 27 Oct 1966.jpg|[[E. M. S. Namboodiripad]] and [[Jagjit Singh Lyallpuri|J. S. Lyallpuri]], 1966
Nicolae Ceaușescu and P. Sundarayya.jpg|[[Puchalapalli Sundarayya|P. Sundarayya]] with [[President of Romania|1st President of Romania]], [[Nicolae Ceaușescu]], 1969
Basu, Ranadive, Mukherjee, Basavapunnaiah, and Konar in the conference of AIKS held in Barsul in 1969.jpg|[[Jyoti Basu|Basu]], [[B. T. Ranadive|Ranadive]], [[Samar Mukherjee|Mukherjee]], [[Makineni Basavapunnaiah|Basavapunnaiah]] and [[Hare Krishna Konar|Konar]] in the 20th conference of the [[All India Kisan Sabha (36 Canning Lane)|AIKS]] held in [[Barshul|Barsul, West Bengal]], 1969
Hare Krishna Konar in the conference of Trade Union International of Agriculture.jpg|[[Hare Krishna Konar|H. K. Konar]] leading the conference of the [[Trade Union International of Agricultural, Forestry and Plantation Workers|TUIAFPW]], in the 1970s
Nicolae Ceaușescu and E. M. S. Namboodiripad.jpg|[[E. M. S. Namboodiripad]] with [[President of Romania|1st President of Romania]], [[Nicolae Ceaușescu]], 1979
Cpmcongress1293.JPG|[[Harkishan Singh Surjeet|H. S. Surjeet]], [[Jyoti Basu]], [[Lakshmi Sahgal]], and [[Sitaram Yechury]] in the 18th party congress at [[Delhi]], 2005
</gallery>

The 23rd Congress of the CPI(M) held between April 6th and 10th 2022 at [[Kannur]], [[Kerala]] elected a 85 member Central Committee with one seat left vacant. There are also three special invitees and two permanent invitees to the Central Committee. The Central Committee at its meeting held on April 10th, 2022 at the conclusion of the Congress elected a 17 member [[Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)|Polit Bureau]]. The Central Committee also re-elected Com. [[Sitaram Yechury]] as the General Secretary. Currently the post of General Secretary is vacant after the death of [[Sitaram Yechury]] on 12th September 2024. :<ref name="cpim.org">{{cite web |url=https://cpim.org/leadership/ |title=New Central Committee Elected at the 23rd Congress|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527202640/https://cpim.org/pressbriefs/new-central-committee-elected-22nd-congress |archive-date=27 May 2018 |url-status=live |date=22 April 2018}}</ref>

=== Politburo members ===
{{Main article|Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
|-
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}; color:white"| {{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}; color:white"| Portrait
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}; color:white"| Name
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}; color:white"| State
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}; color:white"| From (Year)
|-
|1
|[[File:Yechuri 1.JPG|100px]]
|[[Sitaram Yechury]]<br>{{small|''(General Secretary till death on 12 September 2024)''}}
|Andhra Pradesh
|1992
|-
|2
|[[File:PrakashKarat cropped.jpg|100px]]
|[[Prakash Karat]] <br>{{small|''(Former General Secretary)''}}
|New Delhi
|1992
|-
|3
|[[File:Manik Sarkar.jpg|100px]]
|[[Manik Sarkar]]<br>{{small|(''[[Chief Minister of Tripura|Former Chief Minister of Tripura]]'')}}
|Tripura
|1998
|-
|4
|[[File:Pinarayi.JPG|100px]]
|[[Pinarayi Vijayan]]<br>{{small|(''[[Chief Minister of Kerala]]'')}}
|Kerala
|2002
|-
|5
|[[File:Brinda Karat by Debjani Basu.jpg|100px]]
|[[Brinda Karat]]
|New Delhi
|2005
|-
|6
|[[File:B. V. Raghavulu.JPG|100px]]
|[[B. V. Raghavulu]]
|Andhra Pradesh
|2005
|-
|7
|[[File:Dr. Surjya Kanta Mishra at a meeting to assess implementation of safe drinking water, rural sanitation and NREGA schemes, in Kolkata on June 01, 2007.jpg|100px]]
|[[Surjya Kanta Mishra]]
|West Bengal
|2012
|-
|8
|[[File:MABaby.jpg|100px]]
|[[M. A. Baby]]
|Kerala
|2012
|-
|9
|[[File:Mohammed Salim, Leader of CPIM 01.jpg|100px]]
|[[Mohammed Salim (politician)|Mohammed Salim]]
|West Bengal
|2015
|-
|10
|[[File:Subhashini Ali (2019).jpg|100px]]
|[[Subhashini Ali]]
|Uttar Pradesh
|2015
|-
|11
|[[File:G. Ramakrishnan.JPG|100px]]
|[[G. Ramakrishnan]]
|Tamil Nadu
|2015
|-
|12
|[[File:Tapan Kumar Sen.png|100px]]
|[[Tapan Kumar Sen]]
|West Bengal
|2018
|-
|13
|[[File:Nilotpal Basu.png|100px]]
|[[Nilotpal Basu]]
|West Bengal
|2018
|-
|14
|[[File:M. V. Govindan Master 01 4.jpg|100px]]
|[[M. V. Govindan]]
|Kerala
|2022
|-
|15
|[[File:No image available.svg|100px]]
|[[Ram Chandra Dome]]
|West Bengal
|2022
|-
|16
|[[File:Ashok Dhawale.png|100px]]
|[[Ashok Dhawale]]
|Maharashtra
|2022
|-
|17
|[[File:A.vijayaraghavan4.jpg|100px]]
|[[A. Vijayaraghavan]]
|Kerala
|2022
|}
The 23rd party congress newly inducts Ramchandra Dome, Ashok Dhawale and A. Vijayraghavan into the [[Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)|Politburo]].<ref name="cpim.org" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://cpim.org/content/leadership |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212015159/http://www.cpim.org/content/leadership |url-status=dead |title=List of State Secretaries<!-- Bot generated title --> |archive-date=12 February 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/surya-kanta-mishra-replaces-biman-bose-as-cpi-m-bengal-unit-secretary-115031301039_1.html |title=Surya Kanta Mishra replaces Biman Bose as CPI(M) Bengal unit secretary |author=BS Reporter |date=13 March 2015 |access-date=27 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703123722/http://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/surya-kanta-mishra-replaces-biman-bose-as-cpi-m-bengal-unit-secretary-115031301039_1.html |archive-date=3 July 2015 |url-status=live |newspaper=Business Standard India}}</ref>

=== General Secretary ===
{{multiple image
| align = right
| direction = vertical
| header = Communist Party of India (Marxist)
| width = 200
|image1=Akgopalanbhavan240.jpg
|caption1=AKG Bhavan, the CPI(M) national headquarters in [[Delhi]] {{coord|28|37|53.6|N|77|12|17.9|E}}}}
Article XV, Section 15 of the party constitution says:

<blockquote>"No person can hold the position of the General Secretary for more than three full terms. Full term means the period between two Party Congresses. In a special situation, a person who has completed three full terms as General Secretary may be re-elected for a fourth term provided it is so decided by the Central Committee with a three-fourth majority. But in no case can that person be elected again for another term in addition to the fourth term."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cpim.org/party-constitution|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315084048/http://cpim.org/party-constitution|url-status=dead|title=Party Constitution|date=18 March 2009|archivedate=15 March 2015|website=Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}</ref></blockquote>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|+List of General Secretaries<ref name="cpim">{{cite web |url=http://cpim.org/content/members-pb-elected-previous-congresses |title=CPI (M) Website |access-date=9 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124133818/http://cpim.org/content/members-pb-elected-previous-congresses |archive-date=24 November 2012}}</ref>
|-
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}; color:white" | S. No.
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}; color:white"| Term
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}; color:white"| Portrait
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}; color:white"| Name
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}; color:white"|State
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}; color:white"| References
|-
! scope="row" rowspan ="2" | 1
! scope="row" | 1964–1978
| {{sort|Sundarayya|[[File:Sundaraiah-Puchalapalli.jpg|100px]]}}
|[[Puchalapalli Sundarayya]]
|[[Andhra Pradesh]]
|[[Andhra Pradesh]]
| <ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-11-25 |title=Members of PB - 7th to 19th Congress {{!}} Communist Party of India (Marxist) |url=http://cpim.org/content/members-pb-elected-previous-congresses |access-date=2022-11-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121125073315/http://cpim.org/content/members-pb-elected-previous-congresses |archive-date=25 November 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Putchalapalli Sundarayya (An Autobiography) {{!}} Exotic India Art |url=https://www.exoticindiaart.com/book/details/putchalapalli-sundarayya-autobiography-nag308/ |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=www.exoticindiaart.com |language=en}}</ref>
|40785
|41879
|45516
|46742
|0.0914
|-
|-
| colspan="5" |<small>After the split of the Communist Party of India in the 7th General meeting, a new political outfit was formed Communist Party of India (Marxist). [[Puchalapalli Sundarayya]] was elected as its General Secretary.</small>
|[[Assam]]
|10480
|11207
|11122
|10901
|0.0726
|-
|-
! scope="row" rowspan ="2" | 2
|[[Andaman & Nicobar]]
! scope="row" | 1978–1992
|172
| {{sort|Namboodiripad|[[File:E. M. S. Namboodiripad.jpg|100px]]}}
|140
| [[E. M. S. Namboodiripad]]
|124
|[[Kerala]]
|90
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=From the archives: E.M.S. Namboodiripad, a very contemporary Marxist |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/from-the-archives-e-m-s-namboodiripad-a-very-contemporary-marxist-1888241-2021-12-15 |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=India Today |date=15 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Nandita |date=2019-03-19 |title=EMS Namboodiripad, the communist CM who laid foundation of 'Kerala model' |url=https://theprint.in/theprint-profile/ems-namboodiripad-the-communist-cm-who-laid-foundation-of-kerala-model/207502/ |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>
|0.0372
|-
|-
| colspan="5" |<small>The two time [[List of chief ministers of Kerala|Chief Minister of Kerala]], [[E. M. S. Namboodiripad]] was elected as the General Secretary in the 10th party Congress.</small>
|[[Bihar, India|Bihar]]
|17672
|17469
|16924
|17353
|0.0343
|-
|-
! scope="row" rowspan ="2" | 3
|[[Chhattisgarh]]
! scope="row" | 1992–2005
|1211
| {{sort|Surjeet|[[File:Hssurjeet.jpg|100px]]}}
|1364
| [[Harkishan Singh Surjeet]]
|1079
|[[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
|1054
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=archive.ph |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/storypage/storypage.aspx?id=a7cd9552-34ef-42f0-8861-48711969e8ae&ParentID=1e5b1926-3c9b-44c3-99fe-e0863dedc58a&MatchID1=4736&TeamID1=8&TeamID2=6&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1194&MatchID2=4727&TeamID3=2&TeamID4=3&MatchType2=1&SeriesID2=1191&PrimaryID=4736&Headline=Harkishan+Singh+Surjeet+-+nationalist+to+Communist+and+then+kingmaker |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=archive.ph |archive-date=9 December 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121209082224/http://www.hindustantimes.com/storypage/storypage.aspx?id=a7cd9552-34ef-42f0-8861-48711969e8ae&ParentID=1e5b1926-3c9b-44c3-99fe-e0863dedc58a&MatchID1=4736&TeamID1=8&TeamID2=6&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1194&MatchID2=4727&TeamID3=2&TeamID4=3&MatchType2=1&SeriesID2=1191&PrimaryID=4736&Headline=Harkishan+Singh+Surjeet+-+nationalist+to+Communist+and+then+kingmaker |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|0.0077
|-
| colspan="5" |<small>[[Harkishan Singh Surjeet]] came to head the CPI-M as its general secretary in 1992, an influential post he held until 2005 when failing health forced him into virtual retirement.</small>
|-
! scope="row" rowspan ="2" | 4
! scope="row" | 2005–2015
| {{sort|Karat|[[File:PrakashKarat cropped.jpg|100px]]}}
| [[Prakash Karat]]
|[[Kerala]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prakash Karat in CPI-M general secretary |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2005/apr/11cpm.htm |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=Rediff |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| colspan="5" |<small>[[Prakash Karat]] was elected as the general secretary in the 18th party Congress. He was re-elected again to hold office until 2015.</small>
|-
! scope="row" rowspan ="2" | 5
! scope="row" | 2015–2024
|{{sort|Yechury|[[File:Yechuri_1.JPG|100px]] }}
| [[Sitaram Yechury]]
|[[Andhra Pradesh]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-10 |title=Sitaram Yechury gets re-elected as CPI-M general secretary for third time |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/sitaram-yechury-gets-re-elected-as-cpi-m-general-secretary-for-third-time-122041000536_1.html |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=www.business-standard.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-10 |title=Sitaram Yechury re-elected as CPI(M) general secretary for third term |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/sitaram-yechury-re-elected-as-cpim-general-secretary-for-third-term-1099418.html |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| colspan="5" |<small>[[Sitaram Yechury]] was first elected as the party general secretary during the 21st party Congress at Visakhapatnam in April 2015. He was re-elected to the post at the 22nd party Congress at Hyderabad on April 18, 2018. Again re-elected for the third time at 23rd Party Congress held at Kannur, Kerala in April 2022. Sitaram Yechury died on 12th September 2024. He was the only General Secretary in the history of the party to die in office.</small>
|-
|}

=== State Secretary ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"|
|-
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}; color:white" | State
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}; color:white"| State Secretary
|-
|[[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
| '''D. Ayyappan'''
|-
|[[Andhra Pradesh]]
| '''V. Srinivasa Rao'''
|-
|[[Assam]]
| '''Suprakash Talukdar'''
|-
|[[Bihar]]
| '''Lalan Chaudhary'''
|-
|-
|[[Delhi]]
|[[Delhi]]
| '''Anurag Saxena'''
|1162
|-
|1360
|[[Chhattisgarh]]
|1417
| '''Sanjay Parate'''
|1408
|0.0161
|-
|-
|[[Goa]]
|[[Goa]]
| '''Victor Savio Bragança'''
|172
|35
|40
|67
|0.0071
|-
|-
|[[Gujarat]]
|[[Gujarat]]
| '''Hitendra Bhatt'''
|2799
|3214
|3383
|3398
|0.0101
|-
|-
|[[Haryana]]
|[[Haryana]]
| '''Surender Singh Malik'''
|1357
|1478
|1477
|1608
|0.0131
|-
|-
|[[Himachal Pradesh]]
|[[Himachal Pradesh]]
| '''[[Sanjay Chauhan (politician)|Sanjay Chauhan]]'''
|1005
|1006
|1014
|1024
|0.0245
|-
|[[Jammu & Kashmir]]
|625
|720
|830
|850
|0.0133
|-
|-
|[[Jharkhand]]
|[[Jharkhand]]
| '''Prakash Viplav'''
|2552
|2819
|3097
|3292
|0.0200
|-
|-
|[[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu Kashmir]]
|[[Karnataka]]
| '''Ghulam Ali Malik'''
|6574
|-
|7216
| [[Karnataka]]
|6893
| '''U. Basavaraj'''
|6492
|0.0168
|-
|-
|[[Kerala]]
|[[Kerala]]
| '''[[M. V. Govindan]]'''
|301562
|313652
|318969
|316305
|1.4973
|-
|-
|[[Madhya Pradesh]]
| [[Madhya Pradesh]]
| '''Jaswinder Singh'''
|2243
|2862
|2488
|2320
|0.0060
|-
|-
|[[Maharashtra]]
|[[Maharashtra]]
| '''Uday Narkar'''
|8545
|9080
|9796
|10256
|0.0163
|-
|-
|[[Manipur]]
|[[Manipur]]
| '''Kshetrimayum Santa'''
|340
|330
|270
|300
|0.0195
|-
|-
|[[Orissa]]
|[[Odisha]]
| '''Suresh Chandra Panigrahi'''
|3091
|3425
|3502
|3658
|0.0143
|-
|-
|[[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
|[[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
| '''Sukhwinder Singh Sekhon'''
|14328
|-
|11000
|[[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]
|11000
| '''S. Ramachandran'''
|10050
|0.0586
|-
|-
|[[Rajasthan]]
|[[Rajasthan]]
| '''Kishan Pareek'''
|2602
|3200
|3507
|3120
|0.0090
|-
|[[Sikkim]]
|200
|180
|65
|75
|0.0266
|-
|-
|[[Tamil Nadu]]
|[[Tamil Nadu]]
| '''[[K. Balakrishnan (CPI-M)|K. Balakrishnan]]'''
|86868
|-
|90777
|[[Telangana]]
|91709
| '''[[Tammineni Veerabhadram]]'''
|94343
|0.1970
|-
|-
|[[Tripura]]
|[[Tripura]]
| '''[[Jitendra Choudhury]]'''
|38737
|41588
|46277
|51343
|2.5954
|-
|[[Uttaranchal]]
|700
|720
|740
|829
|0.0149
|-
|-
|[[Uttar Pradesh]]
|[[Uttar Pradesh]]
| '''Heera Lal Yadav'''
|5169
|-
|5541
|[[Uttarakhand]]
|5477
| '''Rajendra Negi'''
|5877
|0.0053
|-
|-
|[[West Bengal]]
|[[West Bengal]]
| '''[[Mohammed Salim (politician)|Mohammed Salim]]'''
|245026
|262882
|258682
|274921
|0.579
|-
|-
|}
|[[Central Committee|CC]] staff

|96
=== Principal mass organisations ===
|95
[[File:Cpmcongress (87).JPG|thumb|CPI(M) 18th Congress rally in [[Delhi]]]]
|95
* [[Democratic Youth Federation of India]]
|87
* [[Students' Federation of India]]
* [[Centre of Indian Trade Unions]]
* [[All India Kisan Sabha (36 Canning Lane)|All India Kisan Sabha]]
* All India Agricultural Workers Union
* [[All India Democratic Women's Association]]
* [[Balasangam]]
* [[Bank Employees Federation of India]]
* [[Ganamukti Parishad]], [[Tripura]]
*[[Tribal Youth Federation]], [[Tripura]]
*Adivasi Kshema Samithi, [[Kerala]]

===International affiliation===
Communist Party of India Marxist is internationally affiliated to [[International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties|IMCWP]] and [[Communist Party of Britain|Unity for Peace and Socialism]].
Its members in Great Britain are in the electoral front [[Communist Party of Britain|Unity for Peace and Socialism]], with the [[Communist Party of Britain]] and the British-domiciled sections of the [[Communist Party of Bangladesh]] and the [[Communist Party of Greece]] (KKE). It stood 13 candidates in the London-wide list section of the [[London Assembly]] elections in May 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ufps.org.uk/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218093242/http://ufps.org.uk/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 February 2010 |title=Unity For Peace and Socialism homepage}}</ref>

==Presence in states and politics==

{{as of|2022}}, the CPI(M) heads the state government in [[Kerala]]. [[Pinarayi Vijayan]] is Chief Minister of Kerala. In [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|Tamil Nadu]] it has 2 MLAs and in the Government with [[Secular Progressive Alliance|SPA]] coalition led by [[M. K. Stalin]]. The Left Front under CPI(M) governed [[West Bengal]] for an uninterrupted 34 years (1977–2011) and [[Tripura]] for 30 years, including 25 uninterrupted years between 1993 and 2018. The 34 years of [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] rule in West Bengal is the longest-serving democratically elected communist-led government in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-may-12-fg-communists12-story.html|title=Communists Lead Kolkata's Capitalist Makeover|date=May 12, 2006|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> CPI(M) currently has three MPs in Lok Sabha. CPI(M)'s highest tally was in 2004 when it got 5.66% of votes polled in and it had 43 MPs. It won 42.31% on an average in the 69 seats it contested. It supported the new Indian National Congress-led [[United Progressive Alliance]] government, but without becoming a part of it. On 9 July 2008, it formally withdrew support from the UPA government explaining this by differences about the Indo-US nuclear deal and the IAEA Safeguards Agreement in particular.<ref>{{cite news |title=Left meets President, hands over letter of withdrawal |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200807091250.htm |work=The Hindu |date=9 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080713070349/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200807091250.htm |archive-date=13 July 2008 |language=en-IN}}</ref>

===Current government in State legislative assemblies===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}};color:white" ; rowspan="2" |Sr No.
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}};color:white" ; rowspan="2" |State
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}};color:white" ; rowspan="2" |Govt Since
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}};color:white" ; colspan="4" |Chief Minister
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}};color:white" ; rowspan="2" |Alliance Name
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}};color:white" ; colspan="2" ; rowspan="2" |Parties in Alliance
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}};color:white" ; rowspan="2" |Seats in Assembly
|-
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}};color:white" ;|Name
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}};color:white" ; colspan="2"|Party
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}};color:white" ;|Party seats
|-
!Colspan="11"|CPI(M) Government
|-
| rowspan="10"|1
| rowspan="10"|[[Kerala Legislative Assembly|Kerala]]
| rowspan="10"|[[2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|26 May 2016]]
| rowspan="10"|[[Pinarayi Vijayan]]
| rowspan="10" style="background:{{Party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}};|
| rowspan="10"|CPI(M)
| rowspan="10"|62
| rowspan="10" |[[Left Democratic Front (Kerala)|Left Democratic Front]]
| width="3px" style="background-color: {{party color|Communist Party of India}}" |
|[[Communist Party of India|CPI]] (17)
| rowspan="10"|{{Composition bar|99|140|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|-
| width="3px" style="background-color: {{party color|Kerala Congress (M)}}" |
|[[Kerala Congress (M)|KC(M)]] (5)
|-
| width="3px" style="background-color: {{party color|Janata Dal (Secular)}}" |
|[[Janata Dal (Secular)|JD(S)]] (2)
|-
| width="3px" style="background-color: {{party color|Nationalist Congress Party}}" |
|[[Nationalist Congress Party|NCP]] (2)
|-
| width="3px" style="background-color: {{party color|Kerala Congress (B)}}" |
|[[Kerala Congress (B)|KC(B)]] (1)
|-
| width="3px" style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National League}}" |
|[[Indian National League|INL]] (1)
|-
| width="3px" style="background-color: {{party color|Loktantrik Janata Dal}}" |
|[[Loktantrik Janata Dal|LJD]] (1)
|-
| width="3px" style="background-color: {{party color|Congress (Secular)}}" |
|[[Congress (Secular)|C(S)]] (1)
|-
| width="3px" style="background-color:#FF3D00" |
|[[Janadhipathya Kerala Congress|JKC]] (1)
|-
| width="3px" style="background-color:#FF3D00" |
|[[Independent Politician|IND]] (6)
|-
!Colspan="11"|Alliance Government
|-
|rowspan="4"|2
|rowspan="4"|[[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|Tamil Nadu]]
|rowspan="4"|[[2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|7 May 2021]]
|rowspan="4"| [[M. K. Stalin]]
|rowspan="4"style="background:{{party color|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}};|
|rowspan="4"|[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]]
|rowspan="4"| 133
|rowspan="4" |[[Secular Progressive Alliance]]
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress}}
| INC(18)
|rowspan=4|{{Composition bar|159|234|{{party color|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi}}
| [[Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi|VCK]] (4)
|-
| {{party color cell|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
| [[Communist Party of India|CPI]] (2)
|-
|{{party color cell|Communist Party of India}}
| CPI(M) (2)
|-
|rowspan="4"|3
|rowspan="4"|[[Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly|Jammu and Kashmir]]
|rowspan="4"|[[2024 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election|1 October 2024]]
|rowspan="4"| [[Omar Abdullah]]
|rowspan="4"style="background:{{party color|Jammu and Kashmir National Conference}};|
|rowspan="4"|[[Jammu and Kashmir National Conference|JKNC]]
|rowspan="4"| 42
|rowspan="4" |[[Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance|INDIA]]
|{{party color cell|Indian National Congress}}
| INC(6)
|rowspan=4|{{Composition bar|49|95|{{party color|Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance}}}}
|-
|{{party color cell|Communist Party of India}}
| CPI(M) (1)
|-
|}

===Current seats in State legislative assemblies===
{| class="wikitable"style="text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan="8" Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}; color:white" |Seats won by CPI(M) in [[State legislative assemblies of India|state legislative assemblies]]
|-
! State legislative assembly
! Last election
! Contested<br />seats
! Seats won
! colspan="2" | Alliance
! Result
! {{Ref.}}
|-
| [[Assam Legislative Assembly]]
| [[2021 Assam Legislative Assembly election|2021]]
| 2
| {{Composition bar|1|126|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
| style="background:{{party color|United Opposition Forum}};"|
| [[United Opposition Forum]]
| {{no2|Opposition}}
| <ref group="e">{{cite web |title=Assam General Legislative Election 2021 |url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/file/13620-assam-general-legislative-election-2021/ |website=Election Commission of India |date=6 July 2021 |access-date=13 November 2021 |language=en-IN}}</ref>
|-
| [[Bihar Legislative Assembly]]
| [[2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|2020]]
| 4
| {{Composition bar|2|243|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
| style="background:green;"|
| [[Mahagathbandhan (Bihar)|Mahagathbandhan]]
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|<ref name=":9">{{Cite news|last1=Radhakrishnan|first1=Vignesh|last2=Sen|first2=Sumant|last3=Singaravelu|first3=Naresh|date=2020-11-17|title=Data {{!}} Bihar Assembly election 2020 was the closest in State's history|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/data/data-bihar-assembly-election-2020-was-the-closest-in-states-history/article33095576.ece|access-date=2020-11-19|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
|-
| [[Kerala Legislative Assembly]]
| [[2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2021]]
| 77
| {{Composition bar|62|140|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
| style="background-color: {{party color|Left Democratic Front (Kerala)}};" |
| [[Left Democratic Front (Kerala)|Left Democratic Front]]
| {{yes2| Government}}
|<ref group="e">{{Cite web|url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/file/3767-kerala-general-legislative-election-2016/|title=Kerala General Legislative Election 2016|website=eci.gov.in|date=20 August 2018|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=3 May 2021|archive-date=6 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506000521/https://eci.gov.in/files/file/3767-kerala-general-legislative-election-2016/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly]]
| [[2024 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election|2024]]
| 1
| {{Composition bar|1|90|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
| style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance}};" |
| [[Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance|INDIA]]
| {{yes2| Government}}
|
|
|-
|-
| [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]]
|'''Total'''
| [[2024 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|2024]]
|796073
| 3
|835239
| {{Composition bar|1|288|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|843896
| style="background:blue;"|
|867763
| [[Maha Vikas Aghadi]]
|0.1292
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.results.eci.gov.in/ACOCT2019/partywiseresult-S13.htm?st=S13|title=GENERAL ELECTION TO VIDHAN SABHA TRENDS & RESULT OCT-2019|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=28 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121065754/http://results.eci.gov.in/ACOCT2019/partywiseresult-S13.htm?st=S13|archive-date=21 November 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| [[Odisha Legislative Assembly]]
| [[2024 Odisha Legislative Assembly election|2024]]
| 7
| {{Composition bar|1|147|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
| colspan="2" {{n/a}}
| {{no2|Others}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/file/11679-odisha-legislative-assembly-election-2019/ |title=Odisha Legislative Assembly Election, 2019 - Orissa |publisher=[[Election Commission of India]] |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-date=3 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503185637/https://eci.gov.in/files/file/11679-odisha-legislative-assembly-election-2019/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]]
| [[2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2021]]
| 6
| {{Composition bar|2|234|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
| style="background:{{party color|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}};"|
| [[Secular Progressive Alliance]]
| {{yes2| Government}}
|<ref group="e">{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/download/httpseci.gov.infilesfile13680-tamil-nadu-general-legislative-election-2021/10-%20Detailed%20Results.pdf |title=Detailed Result, Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 |website=eci.gov.in}}</ref>
|-
| [[Tripura Legislative Assembly]]
| [[2023 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|2023]]
| 43
| {{Composition bar|11|60|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
| style="background:#f00;"|
| [[Left Front (Tripura)|Left Front]]
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|<ref group="e">{{Cite web |title=2023 Tripura assembly elections - Results |url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/file/14875-tripura-general-legislative-election-2023/ |website=Election Commission of India}}</ref>
|}
|}


===Presence in Legislatures, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and local bodies by states or union territories===
===Leadership===
====Andhra Pradesh====
[[Image:Cpmleadership18thcongress.jpg|thumb|CPI(M) leaders at the 18th party congress]]
{{See also|List of Rajya Sabha members from Andhra Pradesh#CPI/CPM Rajya Sabha members from Andhra Pradesh state}}
[[Image:Cpmcongress1316.JPG|thumb|[[Harkishan Singh Surjeet]] and [[Jyoti Basu]]]]
[[File:Chennamaneni Rajeshwara Rao Young leader.jpg|thumb|250px|left|[[Chennamaneni Rajeshwara Rao]] in an election rally in 1957.]]
The current general secretary of CPI(M) is Prakash Karat. The 19th party congress of CPI(M), held in [[Coimbatore]] March 29-April 3 2008 elected a Central Committee with 87 members. The Central Committee later elected a 15-member [[Politburo]]:
After formation of CPIM, CPIM came victorious in nine seats in [[1967 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1967]], one seat in [[1972 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1972]], eight seats in [[1978 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1978]], five seats in [[1983 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1983]], 11 seats in [[1985 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1985]], in six seats in [[1989 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1989]], 15 seats in [[1994 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1994]], two seats in [[1999 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1999]], nine seats in [[2004 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2004]] and one seat in [[2009 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2009]].
*[[V.S. Achuthanandan]]
In [[2014 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2014]], CPIM won in one seat, which subsequently went to [[Telangana]] state. However, in 2019 CPIM won no seats. CPIM came victorious for many times in local body elections.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/cpim-takes-novel-route-to-highlight-condition-of-roads/article36767766.ece/amp/|title = CPI(M) takes novel route to highlight condition of roads|newspaper = The Hindu|date = October 2021|last1 = Gilai|first1 = Harish}}</ref> During the 1988 Lok Sabha election, [[Tammineni Veerabhadram]], one of prominent politicians of CPIM, gathered 352,083 votes (39.01%), finishing in second place, becoming the most voted CPI(M) candidate up to then outside of the left strongholds like West Bengal and Kerala.<ref>{{Cite web |title=STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTIONS, 1998 TO THE 12th LOK SABHA |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1998/Vol_I_LS_98.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203014259/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1998/Vol_I_LS_98.pdf |archive-date=2013-12-03 |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=eci.nic.in}}</ref>
*[[Prakash Karat]]
*[[Sitaram Yechury]]
*[[S. Ramachandran Pillai]]
*[[Nirupam Sen]]
*[[Kodiyeri Balakrishnan]]
*[[Biman Bose]]
*[[Manik Sarkar]]
*[[Pinarai Vijayan]]
*[[M.K. Pandhe]]
*[[Buddhadeb Bhattacharya]]
*[[Mohammad Amin]]
*[[K. Varadarajan]]
*[[B.V. Raghavulu]]
*[[Brinda Karat]]


CPIM had MPs in Andhra Pradesh rajyasabha multiple times including [[Moturu Hanumantha Rao|M. Hanumantha Rao]] from 1988 to 1994, [[Yalamanchili Radhakrishna Murthy]] from 1996 to 2002 and [[Penumalli Madhu]] from 2004 to 2010.
The 19th congress saw the departure of the last two members of the Polit Bureau who had been on the original Polit Bureau in 1964, [[Harkishen Singh Surjeet]] and [[Jyoti Basu]].<ref>[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080404/jsp/frontpage/story_9094771.jsp "Nine to none, founders’ era ends in CPM"], ''The Telegraph'' (Calcutta), [[April 3]], [[2008]].</ref>


====Assam====
==State Committee secretaries==
CPIM has a moderate presence in [[Assam]] and had run Government in the state once.
*[[Andaman & Nicobar]]: K.G. Das
CPIM first time entered [[Assam Legislative Assembly]] in [[1978 Assam Legislative Assembly election|1978]] by winning 11 seats followed by two seats in [[1983 Assam Legislative Assembly election|1983]], two seats in [[1985 Assam Legislative Assembly election|1985]] and two seats in 1991. In the 1996 elections, CPIM won two seats with 1,76,721 votes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiavotes.com/ac/party/detail/1/www.indiavotes.com/ac/party/detail/1/129|title=IndiaVotes AC: Party-wise performance for 1996|website=IndiaVotes}}</ref> and along with [[Asom Gana Parishad]] they were in coalition government headed by [[Prafulla Kumar Mahanta]] for 1996–2001.<ref name="thehindu.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/assam-assembly/assam-assembly-election-cpim-rides-mahajot-for-comeback-in-state-after-15-years/article34470003.ece/amp/|title = Assam Assembly election &#124; CPI(M) rides 'Mahajot' for comeback in State after 15 years|newspaper = The Hindu|date = 3 May 2021}}</ref> But in 2001 elections, it drew blanks. In [[2006 Assam Legislative Assembly election|2006]], the CPI (M) had won two seats. Ananta Deka, Uddhav Barman represented CPIM from Rangia and Sorbhog seats. In [[2011 Assam Legislative Assembly election|2011]] and in [[2016 Assam Legislative Assembly election|2016]], CPIM drew blanks.<ref name="thehindu.com"/> In [[2021 Assam Legislative Assembly election|2021]], CPIM made a comeback with [[2021 Assam Legislative Assembly election#Mahajot|Mahajot]] winning one seat from [[Sorbhog Assembly constituency|Sorbhog]] by a margin of around 10,000 votes.<ref name="thehindu.com"/> Sorbhog is considered as a left bastion in the state.
*[[Andhra Pradesh]]: B.V. Raghavulu
*[[Assam]]: [[Uddhab Barman]]
*[[Bihar, India|Bihar]]: Vijaykant Thakur
*[[Chattisgarh]]: M.K. Nandi
*[[Delhi]]: P.M.S. Grewal
*[[Goa]]: Thaelman Perera
*[[Haryana]]: Inderjit Singh
*[[Jharkhand]]: J.S. Majumdar
*[[Karnataka]]: [[V.J.K. Nair]]
*[[Kerala]] : [[Pinarayi Vijayan]]
*[[Madhya Pradesh]]: Badal Saroj
*[[Maharashtra]]: Ashok Dhawale
*[[Orissa]]: Janardan Pati
*[[Punjab, India|Punjab]]: Balwant Singh
*[[Rajasthan]]: [[Vasudev Sharma]]
*[[Sikkim]]: Balram Adhikari
*[[Tamil Nadu]]: N. Varadarajan
*[[Tripura]]: Baidyanath Majumdar
*[[Uttaranchal]]: Vijai Rawat
*[[Uttar Pradesh]]: S.P. Kashyap
*[[West Bengal]]: Biman Bose<ref>[http://cpim.org/xix%20cong/02072008-state%20secretaries.htm List of State Secretaries<!--Bot-generated title-->]</ref>


In lok sabha from Assam, CPIM first won in 1974 when [[Nurul Huda (CPI(M) politician)|Nurul Huda]] was elected in a by-election in Cachar lok sabha constituency in early 1974 by-elections. He defeated the Indian National Congress candidate and former Minister Mahitosh Purkayastha by a margin of 19,944 votes.<ref name="Lal1978">{{cite book|author=Shiv Lal|title=Elections Under the Janata Rule|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6MslAAAAMAAJ|year=1978|publisher=Election Archives|page=29}}</ref> CPIM had also won one seat in 1980, one seat in 1991 and one seat in 1996.
===The principal mass organizations of CPI(M)===
*[[Democratic Youth Federation of India]]
*[[Students Federation of India]]
*[[Centre of Indian Trade Unions]] class organisation
*[[All India Kisan Sabha (Ashoka Road)|All India Kisan Sabha]] peasants' organization
*[[All India Agricultural Workers Union]]
*[[All India Democratic Women's Association]]
*[[Bank Employees Federation of India]]
*[[All India Lawyers Union]]


====Bihar====
In [[Tripura]], the [[Ganamukti Parishad]] is a major mass organization amongst the [[adivasi|tribal]] peoples of the state. In Kerala the [[Adivasi Kshema Samithi]], a tribal organisation is controlled by CPI(M).
CPIM [[Bihar]] has its large roots in the peasant movements by undivided CPI in the state. Communists were actively involved in various movements from the 1920s. [[All India Kisan Sabha]] (AIKS) was founded in 1936, which predominantly became active in Bihar. By 1942, AIKS and communists dominated the peasant movement in the country. The members of AIKS or [[All India Kisan Sabha|Kisan Sabha]] were mostly communists. This created a political and social base for communists in Bihar. [[Sahajanand Saraswati]], [[Karyanand Sharma]], [[Bhogendra Jha]] were most notable leaders of the movement.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44142005|jstor = 44142005|title = Peasant Movements and Emergence of Left Politics in Bihar (1920—1945)|last1 = Pandey|first1 = S. N.|journal = Proceedings of the Indian History Congress|year = 1979|volume = 40|pages = 642–652}}</ref> Afterwards Bakasht movement (1946–1952), Madhubani movement, Darbhanga movement mobilised Left politics in the state. Though after 1967, neither CPIM nor CPI(ML), which was formed in 1969, grew as an alternative to CPI until the 2000s.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44145534|jstor = 44145534|title = Peasant Movement and Communist Mobilization in Bihar: A Case Study of Darbhanga (1950–70)|last1 = Chaudhry|first1 = Vandhana|last2 = Chaudhry|first2 = Vandana|journal = Proceedings of the Indian History Congress|year = 2003|volume = 64|pages = 1074–1082}}</ref>


CPIM won four seats in [[1967 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|1967]], three seats in [[1969 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|1969]], 18 seats in [[1972 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|1972]], four seats in [[1977 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|1977]], seats in [[1980 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|1980]], one seat in [[1985 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|1985]], six seats in [[1990 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|1990]], two seats in [[1995 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|1995]], two seats in [[2000 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|2000]], one seat in [[February 2005 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|February 2005]], and a seat in [[October 2005 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|October 2005]]. The party drew blanks in [[2010 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|2010]] and [[2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|2015]]; howeverm it did come back in [[2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|2020]] elections by winning two seats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/assembly-elections/bihar/left-scores-in-16-out-of-29-seats-in-bihar-cpi-ml-wins-12-of-19/articleshow/79161263.cms |title=Bihar Vidhan Sabha result: Left scores in 16 out of 29 seats in Bihar, CPI-ML wins 12 of 19 &#124; – Times of India |publisher=M.timesofindia.com |date=2020-11-11 |access-date=2022-03-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theprint.in/politics/grassroot-presence-and-a-natural-alliance-why-the-embattled-left-did-well-in-bihar/543537/?amp|title=Grassroot presence and a 'natural' alliance — why the embattled Left did well in Bihar|website=[[ThePrint]] |date=14 November 2020}}</ref> CPIM fought election in alliance with [[Rastriya Janata Dal]] and fared well. It is also speculated that if more seats were given to the left parties, the election could be won with majority.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theprint.in/politics/grassroot-presence-and-a-natural-alliance-why-the-embattled-left-did-well-in-bihar/543537/|title = Grassroot presence and a 'natural' alliance — why the embattled Left did well in Bihar| website=[[ThePrint]] |date = 14 November 2020}}</ref>
This apart, on the cultural front as many as 12 major organisations are led by CPI(M).


CPIM had representatives in Lok Sabha from Bihar only for three times: [[1999 Indian general election|1999]], [[1991 Indian general election|1991]] and [[1989 Indian general election|1989]]; each year, it won only one Lok Sabha seat. CPIM also has good presence in the panchayats.
===Party Publications===
From the Centre, two weekly newspapers are published, ''People's Democracy'' (English) and ''Lok Lehar'' (Hindi). The central theoretical organ of the party is ''The Marxist'', published quarterly in English.


CPIM supported [[Janata Dal (United)|JD(U)]], [[Rashtriya Janata Dal|RJD]] and [[Indian National Congress|INC]] to form coalition government in Bihar in August, 2022. However, it did not take part in the government.
====Daily Newspapers====
*''[[Ganashakti]]'' ([[West Bengal]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]])
*''[[Deshabhimani]]'' ([[Kerala]]), [[Malayalam]])
*''Daily Desher Katha'' ([[Tripura]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]])
*''Theekathir'' ([[Tamil Nadu]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]])
*[http://prajasakti.com/ Prajashakti] ([[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]])


====Weeklies====
====Chhattisgarh====
CPIM registered its first victory in polls in the [[Chhattisgarh]] state in the 2019 municipal corporation elections, in which it bagged two wards. Surthi Kuldeep won Bairotil ward and Rajkumari won in Monkre ward.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deshabhimani.com/english/news/national/cpi-m-opens-account-in-chhattisgarh-municipal-elections/1370|title=CPI(M) Opens Account in Chhattisgarh : Municipal Corporation Elections|website=Deshabhimani}}</ref>
*''Abshar'' ([[West Bengal]], [[Urdu]])
*''Swadhintha'' ([[West Bengal]], [[Hindi]])
*''Desh Hiteshi'' ([[Bengali language|Bengali]])
*''Janashakthi'' ([[Karnataka]], [[Kannada]])<ref>''Janashakti'' has replaced the previous CPI(M) organ in Karnataka, ''Ikyaranga''</ref>
*''Jeevan Marg'' ([[Maharashtra]], [[Marathi]])
*''Samyabadi'' ([[Orissa]], [[Oriya]])
*''Deshabhimani Vaarika'' ([[Kerala]], [[Malayalam]])
*''Ganashakti'' ([[Assamese]], [[Assam]])


====Fortnightlies====
====Gujarat====
CPIM has a limited presence in [[Gujarat]]. The party never won any Vidhan Sabha or Lok Sabha seat from Gujarat, though a bit number of panchayat seats are often won. But in 2020, CPIM's student wing SFI historically won the elections of [[Central University of Gujarat]], which is considered as a right-wing bastion in India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/nation/2020/jan/26/left-dalit-unity-wins-gujarat-central-university-student-polls-as-abvp-loses-all-seats-2094773.html|title=Left-Dalit unity wins Gujarat Central University student polls as ABVP loses all seats|work=The New Indian Express|date=8 January 2020 }}</ref>
*''Lok Jatan'' ([[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Hindi]])
*''Lok Samvad'' ([[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Hindi]])
*''Sarfarosh Chintan'' ([[Gujarat]], [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]])


====Monthlies====
====Himachal Pradesh====
CPIM has the presence in [[Himachal Pradesh]] in areas like [[Summer Hill, Shimla|Summer Hill]],<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/himachal-pradesh-2017/cpi-m-wins-theog-assembly-seat-in-himachal-after-24-years/article21832992.ece/amp/|title = CPI (M) wins Theog assembly seat in Himachal after 24 years|newspaper = The Hindu|date = 18 December 2017|last1 = Nair|first1 = Sobhana K.}}</ref> [[Shimla|Shimla city]], [[Theog]] etc. CPIM's student wing [[Students' Federation of India|SFI]] has considerably presence in the [[Himachal Pradesh University]].<ref name="indianexpress.com">{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/cpim-to-fight-on-30-assembly-seats-in-himachal-pradesh-says-party-leader-4891364/ |title=CPI(M) to fight on 30 Assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh, says party leader |publisher=Indianexpress.com |date= 15 October 2017|accessdate=2022-03-15}}</ref> CPIM had representatives in the [[Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly]] in 1967 and 1993. In 1993, [[Rakesh Singha]] won from Shimla seat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Politics/Gaheyx0VLYCSU3gR9JErVI/CPM-scores-first-win-in-Himachal-Pradesh-in-24-years.html?facet=amp |title=CPM scores first win in Himachal Pradesh in 24 years |publisher=Livemint.com |date=2017-12-19 |accessdate=2022-03-15}}</ref> However, CPIM managed to win many seats in the municipal and panchayat elections.<ref name="indianexpress.com"/>
*''Shabtaab'' ([[Urdu]])
*''Yeh Naya Raste'' ([[Jammu & Kashmir]], [[Urdu]])
*''Lok Lahar'' ([[Punjabi language|Punjabi]])
*''Nandan'' ([[Bengali language|Bengali]])
*''Marxist'' ([[Tamil language]])


In 2012, Shimla Municipal Corporation election, CPI(M) won the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor in [[Shimla Municipal Corporation]] with a huge majority with a total of 3 seats.<ref>{{cite news |title= Shimla municipal poll: CPI(M) scripts history |url= http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/shimla-municipal-poll-cpim-scripts-history/article3465571.ece |website= The Hindu |date= 28 May 2012 |language=en }}</ref>
====Theoretical Publications====
*''Marxist'' ([[English language|English]])
*''Marksbadi Path'' ([[Bengali language|Bengali]])
*''Chinta'' ([[Malayalam]])
*''Marxist'' ([[Telugu language|Telugu]])


In 2016, CPIM won 42 seats out of 331 seats contested and received only two district panchayats. In the [[2017 Shimla Municipal Corporation election]], CPI(M) managed to win only one seat despite being a kingmaker in previous elections.
====Publishing Houses====
*Leftword Publication
*CPI(M) Publication
*National Book Agency ([[West Bengal]])
*Chinta Publication ([[Kerala]])
*Prajasakti Book House ([[Andhra Pradesh]])
*Deshabhimani Book House ([[Kerala]])
*Natun Sahitya Parishad ([[Assam]])


In [[2017 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2017]], CPIM made a comeback in [[Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly]] after 24 years by winning [[Theog Assembly constituency|Theog]] assembly seat. Rakesh Singha, a former CPIM Central Committee member won the seat by a margin of 1,983 seats.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> CPIM contested for 14 seats in the election. After the election, the presence in state started to increase.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/himachal-pradesh-2017/cpim-offers-pro-people-alternative/article19970802.ece|title=CPI(M) offers pro-people alternative in HP|website=The Hindu|date=2 November 2017}}</ref>
==State governments==
As of 2008, CPI(M) leads state governments in three states, West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura. Chief ministers belonging to the party are Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, V.S. Achuthanandan and Manik Sarkar. In West Bengal and Tripura, the party had a majority of its own in the state assemblies, but governs together with Left Front partners. In Kerala, the party is the largest component of the Left Democratic Front.


In 2021, panchayat elections, CPIM increased its tally by jumping to 337 seats. 12 zila parishad (ZP) members, 25 panchayat samiti members, 28 panchayat pradhans, 30 vice-pradhans and 242 ward members got elected from CPIM. Also, CPIM candidates got elected for president in 25 panchayats and vice-president in 30 panchayats.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://peoplesdemocracy.in/2021/0131_pd/hp-local-body-elections-2021-cpim-wins-more-seats-last-time|title = HP: Local Body Elections 2021, CPI(M) Wins More Seats than Last Time &#124; Peoples Democracy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news8plus.com/42-seats-in-2016-and-337-seats-in-2021-cpi-m-wins-in-himachal-pradesh/|title=42 seats in 2016 and 337 seats in 2021: CPI (M) wins in Himachal Pradesh – News8Plus-Realtime Updates on Breaking News & Headlines|date=February 2021}}</ref>
==Name==
[[Image:Cpmmural12.jpg|thumb|align=right|[[Urdu]] mural for the CPI(M) candidate in the Kolkata North East constituency in the 2004 Lok Sabha election, [[Md. Salim|Mohammed Salim]]]]
In [[Hindi]] CPI(M) is often called मार्क्सवादी कमयुनिस्ट पार्टी (''Marksvadi Kamyunist Party'', abbreviated ''MaKaPa''). The official party name in Hindi is however ''Bharatiya Kamyunist Party (Marksvadi)''.


====Karnataka====
During the initial period after the split 1964, the party was often referred to as 'Left Communist Party' or 'Communist Party of India (Left)'. The CPI was then, in the same parlance, dubbed as the 'Rightist Communist Party'. The party decided to adopt the name 'Communist Party of India (Marxist)' ahead of the March 1965 Kerala Legislative Assembly election, in order to obtain an election symbol.<ref>[[Jyoti Basu|Basu, Jyoti]]. ''Memoirs - A Political Autobiography''. [[Calcutta]]: National Book Agency, 1999. p. 189.</ref>
CPIM has not won any seat in [[Karnataka]] since 2004. In [[2004 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|2004]], CPIM won 1 seat; in [[1994 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|1994]], it won 1 seat; in [[1985 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|1985]], it won two seats and in [[1983 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|1983]], it won two seats in the [[Karnataka Legislative Assembly]].


====Kerala====
==Splits and offshoots==
{{Further|Communism in Kerala}}
A large number of parties have been formed as a result of splits from the CPI(M), such as [[Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)]], [[Marxist Communist Party of India]], [[Marxist Coordination Committee]] in [[Jharkhand]], [[Janathipathiya Samrakshana Samithy]], [[Communist Marxist Party]] and [[BTR-EMS-AKG Janakeeya Vedi]] in [[Kerala]], [[Party of Democratic Socialism (India)|Party of Democratic Socialism]] in [[West Bengal]], [[Janganotantrik Morcha]] in [[Tripura]], the [[Lok Sangharsh Morcha|Ram Pasla group]] in [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[Orissa Communist Party]] in [[Orissa]], etc.
{{See also|Left Democratic Front|Communist Party of India (Marxist), Kerala}}
[[Kerala]] has a strong presence of CPIM and left parties in its politics and society.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/the-place-where-communists-can-still-dream/2017/10/26/55747cbe-9c98-11e7-b2a7-bc70b6f98089_story.html |title=One of the few places where a communist can still dream |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2017-10-27 |accessdate=2022-03-15}}</ref> CPIM had the most of its electoral success from Kerala after 2011. After [[2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election]], it historically formed Government twice breaking the 40 year old political practice of the state. CPIM currently has 62 seats in the assembly.


[[File:Child holding Communist Party of ndia (Marxist) Flag.jpg|thumb|A Child from Kerala holding Communist Party of India (Marxist) Flag]]
==Election results==
{{main|CPI(M) election results}}
In the 2009 elections it lost Bengal and Kerala, two of of strongholds in 2009 elections. In West Bengal it got only 9 seats as it was thrashed by Trinamool c.- Congress and suci alliance.


In Kerala, the CPIM has pursued a policy of massive investment in poverty alleviation, including the distribution of procurement cards that provide almost free access to basic foodstuffs and the introduction of a minimum wage twice the national average, as well as in education and health. According to geographer Srikumar Chattopadhyay, "The communists also strongly developed the [[Panchayati raj|panchayat]] system, the village councils that allow everyone to participate in the development of the state."<ref>{{Cite web |author=Pierre Daum |date=March 2022 |title=Kerala: a state of hope for India's Muslims |url=https://www.justicenews.co.in/kerala-a-state-of-hope-for-indias-muslims/ |access-date= |website=justicenews |language=en-US}}</ref>
==External links==
{{Communist Parties}}


===Party related websites===
====Madhya Pradesh====
CPIM has entered in [[Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly]] only once. In [[1993 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1993]] CPIM won 1 seat.<ref>{{cite web|title=Madhya Pradesh Assembly Election Results in 1993|url=http://www.elections.in/madhya-pradesh/assembly-constituencies/1993-election-results.html|website=elections.in|accessdate=25 May 2018}}</ref>
*[http://vote.cpim.org/ CPI(M) election website]
*[http://www.cpim.org/ CPI(M) web site]
*[http://www.leftword.com Leftword Books] CPI(M) publishing house
*[http://www.cpimap.com/ CPI(M) Andhra Pradesh State Committee]


===Party publications===
====Maharashtra====
Currently the party has one representative in [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]]. CPI(M) candidate Comrade Vinod Nikole, an Adivasi leader and CPI(M) Maharashtra State Committee member won the [[Dahanu Assembly constituency|Dahanu]] by a margin of 4,742 votes. As of 2020, he is also the State Secretary and Thane-Palghar District Secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). Notably, the seat was won by CPIM simultaneously from 1978 with just a single exception of 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/amp/assembly-election-2019/cpim-holds-ground-in-1-seat-tall-leader-sees-defeat-771002.html|title = CPI(M) holds ground in 1 seat; tall leader sees defeat|date = 25 October 2019}}</ref>
*[http://pd.cpim.org ''People's Democracy'']
*[http://www.dailydesherkatha.com ''Daily Desher Katha'']
*[http://www.deshabhimani.com/ ''Deshabhimani'']
*[http://www.ganashakti.com/ ''Ganashakti'']
*[http://www.lok-samvad.page.tl/ ''Lok Samvad'']
*[http://www.prajasakti.com/ ''Prajasakti'']
*[http://www.theekkathir.in ''Theekathir'']
*[http://www.janashakthi.org ''Janashakthi'']


===Articles===
====Manipur====
CPIM never won a single seat in Manipur since the party participated in [[1995 Manipur Legislative Assembly election|1995 Legislative Assembly election]] for the first time in the state. Currently, CPIM is a part of [[Manipur Progressive Secular Alliance]], an alliance led by Indian National Congress.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Six-party alliance, including Congress, CPI, Forward Bloc, named Manipur Progressive Secular Alliance|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/assembly-elections/manipur/six-party-alliance-including-congress-cpi-forward-bloc-named-manipur-progressive-secular-alliance/articleshow/89370846.cms|access-date=2022-02-13}}</ref>
*[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050331/asp/opinion/story_4549192.asp Search For Ways To Keep Marx Alive] Opinion on party structure by Sumanta Sen. ''The Telegraph'' Calcutta, India. [[March 31]], [[2005]]. Accessed [[April 1]], [[2005]].
*[http://www.hindu.com/2005/04/07/stories/2005040708001100.htm Veteran Communists Honoured] News article on Party history conference. ''The Hindu''. [[April 6]], [[2005]]. Accessed [[April 8]], [[2005]].
*[http://us.rediff.com/news/2005/apr/09cpm.htm All you wanted to know about CPI-M] News article on CPI-M. ''Rediff News''. [[April 8]], [[2005]]. Accessed [[April 8]], [[2005]].
*[http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2209/stories/20050506002101600.htm ''An Upbeat Left''] by Venkitesh Ramakrishnan. '''Frontline''' Volume 22 - Issue 09, [[April 23]] - [[May 06]], [[2005]]


==See also==
====Odisha====
Presently, CPIM has only one representative in [[Odisha Legislative Assembly]] from [[Bonai Assembly constituency|Bonai]].<ref name="SP Ass Cand">{{cite web |title=List of Contesting Candidates(Phase-II) (AC) |url=http://www.ceoorissa.nic.in/docs/Election/2019/Form7A/Phase2/List%20of%20Contesting%20Candidates%20%282nd%20Phase-AC%20Wise%29.pdf |website=ceoorissa.nic.in |publisher=Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha |accessdate=17 April 2019}}</ref>
{{Commons|Communist Party of India (Marxist)|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}

====Punjab====

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Punjab has an eventful history, connected with the state's socio-political landscape and its struggle for workers' rights, agrarian reforms, and social justice.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/once-thriving-left-struggling-for-survival/articleshow/89028059.cms|title=Once thriving, Left struggling for survival in Punjab assembly|newspaper=The Times of India |date=21 January 2022 |access-date=22 March 2024}}</ref> The roots of the CPI(M) in Punjab can be traced back to the early 20th century with the emergence of various revolutionary movements. Two significant organizations that played a crucial role in shaping the communist movement in Punjab were the Gaddar Party, formed in 1913, and the Lal Communist Party, established in 1928. While the Gaddar Party aimed at seeking India's independence from British colonial rule through armed resistance, the Lal Communist Party focused on empowering peasants and labourers through revolutionary means.

After India gained independence in 1947, the Communist Party of India (CPI) was formed through the amalgamation of various leftist groups, including the Lal Communist Party. However, ideological differences within the CPI led to a split, resulting in the formation of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M) in 1964. The CPI(M) in Punjab has consistently advocated for land reforms, workers' rights, and social equality. It has garnered support among the rural and urban poor, particularly in areas with a strong agrarian base. The party actively participated in various social and political movements, aiming to uplift the marginalized sections of society and improve their living conditions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thewire.in/politics/punjab-communism-bhagat-singh|title=Che, Lenin, Bhagat Singh: How One Man Is Taking Punjab Down Revolutionary Road|access-date=23 March 2024}}</ref>

During the 1980s, Punjab faced a crisis with the rise of the Khalistan movement, seeking a separate Sikh state. The Khalistan movement posed a significant challenge to not only the Indian state but also to Punjab. During this period, the CPI(M) opposed the Khalistan movement and stood for a united India. In the late 1990s, the CPI(M) faced internal divisions, leading to a significant split. One prominent faction led by Mangat Ram Pasla formed a new party called the Communist Party of Marxist (CPM) in Punjab, pursuing its own ideological path. This internal rift had an impact on the party's organizational structure and electoral presence.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/features/left-out-300380|title=Left out|access-date=23 March 2024}}</ref>

Over the years, the CPI(M) experienced a waning presence on the electoral front in Punjab.<ref>{{cite web |title=Once thriving, Left struggling for survival in Punjab assembly polls |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/once-thriving-left-struggling-for-survival/articleshow/89028059.cms |website=The Times of India |date=21 January 2022}}</ref> The changing political dynamics, rise of regional parties, and the diminishing appeal of communist ideology in a globalized world contributed to its reduced influence in electoral politics. Despite the challenges, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Punjab continues to be active in advocating for workers' and peasants' rights and participating in social and political movements. Its history reflects the complexities of Punjab's political landscape and its contribution to the larger communist movement in India.

====Rajasthan====
In the 2008 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election, CPIM secured three seats from Anupgarh, Dhod and Danta Ramgarh.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/cpm-betters-performance-wins-three-seats/articleshow/3815463.cms|title=CPM betters performance, wins three seats|newspaper=The Times of India |date=10 December 2008 |access-date=23 March 2024}}</ref> Along with six other parties, CPIM formed [[Loktantrik Morcha (Rajasthan)|Loktantrik Morcha]] in 2013. However, CPIM could not win any seats in the [[2013 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|2013 Legislative Assembly election]]. The party made a comeback in the state by winning two seats out 28 seats they contested in the 2018 Legislative Assembly election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/rajasthan-elections/rajasthan-assembly-election-results-2018-cpi-m-set-to-win-two-seats-in-rajasthan/story-henSX1BX5k3cixpTA5HQHL.html|title=Rajasthan assembly election results 2018: CPI(M) set to win two seats in Rajasthan|date=11 December 2018 |access-date=23 March 2024}}</ref>

====Tamil Nadu====
[[File:Keezhvenmani martyrs memorial building opening (14).JPG|thumb|250px|right|Members of CPI(M) Tamil Nadu during an inauguration ceremony of a building]]
CPIM, as a part of [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] front in [[1989 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election]], won 15 seats.<ref>{{cite web
| last = Election Commission of India
| title = 1989 Election Statistical Report
| url = http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1989/StatisticalReportTamilNadu89.pdf
| access-date = 19 April 2009
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101006153620/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1989/StatisticalReportTamilNadu89.pdf
| archive-date = 6 October 2010}}</ref> In [[2006 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2006]], CPIM was the part of the alliance led by DMK. The party contested in 13 seats and won 9 seats. In the [[2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|next election]], CPIM joined [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] coalition and won 10 seats out of the 12 seats they contested. But the party was unable to secure any seat in [[2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2016]].<ref>{{cite web|title=General Election to Legislative Assembly Trends & Results 2016|url=http://eciresults.nic.in/PartyWiseResultS22.htm?st=S22|publisher=[[Election Commission of India]]|access-date=14 August 2021|archive-date=24 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124073713/http://eciresults.nic.in/PartyWiseResultS22.htm?st=S22|url-status=dead}}</ref> In [[2019 Indian general election]], CPIM won two seats from [[Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency|Coimbatore]] and [[Madurai Lok Sabha constituency|Madurai]] in Tamil Nadu.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/coimbatore-lok-sabha-election-result-2019-p-r-natarajan-of-cpi-m-wins-the-ls-seat/articleshow/69478728.cms|title=Coimbatore Election Result 2019: P R Natarajan of CPI (M) wins the LS seat|newspaper=The Times of India |date=24 May 2019 |access-date=23 March 2024}}</ref> In [[2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election]], CPIM made a comeback by winning two seats. In 2022, CPI(M) won many seats in the municipal corporation elections. T. Nagarajan of CPI(M) got the post of Deputy Mayor in [[Madurai Municipal Corporation]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/madurai/article65186849.ece|title=T. Nagarajan is CPI (M) candidate for Madurai Deputy Mayor|newspaper=The Hindu |date=3 March 2022 |access-date=23 March 2024}}</ref>

====Telangana====
In 2014, CPIM won in one seat in Andhra Pradesh, which subsequently went to Telangana state. However, in 2018 CPIM won no seats. In 2022 [[Munugode Assembly constituency|Munugode]] by-election, CPIM supported the candidate fielded by [[Bharat Rashtra Samithi]]. In [[Telangana Legislative Assembly|2023]], CPIM will contest the election in alliance with [[Bharat Rashtra Samithi|BRS]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-14 |title=Left, TRS will contest next polls together: Telangana CPM secretary Tammineni |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2022/nov/14/left-trs-will-contest-next-polls-together-tammineni-2518017.html |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

====Tripura====
{{See also|Left Front (Tripura)}}

====West Bengal====
{{See also|Communist Party of India (Marxist), West Bengal}}

==State legislative assembly election results ==

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}};color:white" | Election Year
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}};color:white" | Overall votes
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}};color:white" | % of overall votes
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}};color:white" | Total seats
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}};color:white" | seats won/<br />seats contensted
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}};color:white" | +/- in seats
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}};color:white" | +/- in vote share
!Style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}};color:white" | Sitting side
|-
!colspan=8|[[Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly]]
|-
|[[2024 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2024]]
|43,012
|0.13%
|175
|{{Composition bar|0|8|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|—
|{{Decrease}}0.19%
|—
|-
|[[2019 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2019]]<br />
|1,01,071
|0.32%
|175
|{{Composition bar|0|7|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}}1
|{{steady}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
|[[2014 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2014]]<br />
|4,07,376
|0.84%
|175
|{{Composition bar|1|68|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{steady}}
|{{decrease}}0.59
|{{n/a}}
|-
|[[2009 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2009]]<br />
|6,03,407
|1.43%
|294
|{{Composition bar|1|18|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 8
|{{decrease}} 0.49
|{{n/a}}
|-
|[[2004 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2004]]<br />
|6,56,721
|1.84%
|294
|{{Composition bar|9|14|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 7
|{{increase}} 0.14
|{{n/a}}
|-
|[[1999 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1999]]<br />
|5,67,761
|1.70%
|294
|{{Composition bar|2|48|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 14
|{{decrease}} 1.26
|{{n/a}}
|-
|[[1994 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1994]]<br />
|9,23,204
|2.96%
|294
|{{Composition bar|15|16|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 9
|{{increase}} 0.50
|{{n/a}}
|-
|[[1989 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1989]]<br />
|7,07,686
|2.96%
|294
|{{Composition bar|6|15|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 5
|{{increase}} 0.15
|{{n/a}}
|-
|[[1985 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1985]]<br />
|5,30,349
|2.69%
|294
|{{Composition bar|11|11|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 6
|{{increase}} 0.20
|{{n/a}}
|-
!colspan=8|[[Assam Legislative Assembly]]
|-
|[[2021 Assam Legislative Assembly election|2021]]<br />
|160,758
|0.84%
|126
|{{Composition bar|1|2|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 1
|{{increase}} 0.29
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
|[[2016 Assam Legislative Assembly election|2016]]<br />
|93,506
|0.55%
|126
|{{Composition bar|0|19|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{steady}}
|{{steady}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
!colspan=8|[[Bihar Legislative Assembly]]
|-
|[[2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|2020]]<br />
|274,155
|0.65%
|243
|{{Composition bar|2|4|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 2
|{{increase}}0.04%
|{{No2|Opposition}}
|-
|[[2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|2015]]<br />
|232,149
|0.61%
|243
|{{Composition bar|0|43|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{steady}}
|{{decrease}} 0.21
|{{n/a}}
|-
!colspan=8|[[Gujarat Legislative Assembly]]
|-
|[[2022 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election|2022]]<br />
|10,647
|0.03%
|182
|{{Composition bar|0|9|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{steady}}
|{{decrease}} 0.01%
|{{n/a}}
|-
! colspan="8" |[[Haryana Legislative Assembly]]
|-
![[2024 Haryana Legislative Assembly election|2024]]
!34,373
!0.25%
!90
!{{Composition bar|0|1|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
!—
!{{Increase}}0.18%
!—
|-
!colspan=8|[[Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly]]
|-
|[[2022 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2022]]<br />
|27,812
|0.66%
|68
|{{Composition bar|0|11|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 1
|{{decrease}} 0.81%
|{{steady}}
|-
|[[2017 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2017]]<br />
|55,558
|1.5%
|68
|{{Composition bar|1|14|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 1
|{{decrease}} 0.1%
|{{n/a}}
|-
! colspan="8" |[[Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly]]
|-
![[2024 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election|2024]]
!33,634
!0.6%
!90
!{{Composition bar|1|1|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
!-
!{{increase}}0.1%
!{{Yes2|Government}}
|-
![[2014 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election|2014]]
!24,017
!0.5%
!87
!{{Composition bar|1|3|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
!—
!{{Decrease}}0.3%
!{{No2|Opposition}}
|-
!colspan=8|[[Kerala Legislative Assembly]]
|-
|[[2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2021]]<br />
|5,288,502
|25.38%
|140
|{{Composition bar|62|77|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 4
|{{decrease}} 1.14%
|{{yes2|Government}}
|-
|[[2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2016]]<br />
|5,365,472
|26.7%
|140
|{{Composition bar|59|84|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 14
|{{decrease}} 1.48
|{{yes2|Government}}
|-
|[[2011 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2011]]<br />
|4,921,354
|28.18%
|140
|{{Composition bar|45|84|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 16
|{{decrease}} 2.27
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
|[[2006 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2006]]<br />
|4,732,381
|30.45%
|140
|{{Composition bar|61|84|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 37
|{{increase}} 6.60
|{{yes2|Government}}
|-
|[[2001 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2001]]<br />
|3,752,976
|23.85%
|140
|{{Composition bar|24|74|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 16
|{{increase}} 2.26
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
|[[1996 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1996]]<br />
|3,078,723
|21.59%
|140
|{{Composition bar|40|62|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 12
|{{increase}} 0.15
|{{yes2|Government}}
|-
|[[1991 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1991]]<br />
|3,082,354
|21.74%
|140
|{{Composition bar|28|64|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 10
|{{decrease}} 2.12
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
|[[1987 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1987]]<br />
|2,912,999
|22.86%
|140
|{{Composition bar|38|70|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 12
|{{increase}} 4.06
|{{yes2|Government}}
|-
|[[1982 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1982]]<br />
|1,798,198
|18.80%
|140
|{{Composition bar|26|51|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 9
|{{decrease}} 0.55
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
|[[1980 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1980]]<br />
|1,846,312
|19.35%
|140
|{{Composition bar|35|50|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 18
|{{decrease}} 2.83
|{{yes2|Government}}
|-
|[[1977 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1977]]<br />
|1,946,051
|22.18%
|140
|{{Composition bar|17|68|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 12
|{{decrease}} 1.65
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
|[[1970 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1970]]<br />
|1,794,213
|23.83%
|140
|{{Composition bar|29|73|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 23
|{{increase}} 0.32
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
|[[1967 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1967]]<br />
|1,476,456
|23.51%
|140
|{{Composition bar|52|59|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 12
|{{increase}} 3.64
|{{yes2|Government}}
|-
|[[1965 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1965]]<br />
|1,257,869
|19.87%
|140
|{{Composition bar|40|73|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
| New
| New
|{{n/a}}
|-
!colspan=8|[[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]]
|-
|[[2019 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|2019]]<br />
|204,933
|0.37%
|288
|{{Composition bar|1|8|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{steady}}
|{{decrease}} 0.02%
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
|[[2014 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|2014]]<br />
|207,933
|0.39%
|288
|{{Composition bar|1|20|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{steady}}
|{{decrease}} 0.21%
|{{n/a}}
|-
|[[2009 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|2009]]<br />
|270,052
|0.60%
|288
|{{Composition bar|1|20|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}}2
|{{decrease}} 0.02%
|{{n/a}}
|-
!colspan=8|[[Odisha Legislative Assembly]]
|-
|[[2024 Odisha Legislative Assembly election|2024]]
|93,295
|0.37%
|147
|{{Composition bar|1|7|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|—
|{{Increase}}0.07%
|—
|-
|[[2019 Odisha Legislative Assembly election|2019]]<br />
|70,119
|0.32%
|147
|{{Composition bar|1|8|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{steady}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
|[[2014 Odisha Legislative Assembly election|2014]]<br />
|80,274
|0.40%
|147
|{{Composition bar|1|8|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{steady}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
!colspan=8|[[Punjab Legislative Assembly]]
|-
|[[2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election|2022]]<br />
|9,503
|0.06%
|117
|{{Composition bar|0|14|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
!colspan=8|[[Rajasthan Legislative Assembly]]
|-
|[[2023 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|2023]]<br />
|382,387
|0.96%
|200
|{{Composition bar|0|17|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 2
|{{decrease}} 0.24
|{{n/a}}
|-
|[[2018 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|2018]]<br />
|434,210
|1.2%
|200
|{{Composition bar|2|28|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 2
|{{increase}} 0.33
|{{n/a}}
|-
|[[2013 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|2013]]<br />
|629,002
|0.9%
|200
|{{Composition bar|0|38|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 3
|{{decrease}} 0.7
|{{n/a}}
|-
!colspan=8|[[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]]
|-
|[[2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2021]]<br />
|3,90,819
|0.85%
|234
|{{Composition bar|2|6|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 2
|{{increase}} 0.13
|{{yes2|Government}}
|-
|[[2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2016]]<br />
|3,07,303
|0.72%
|234
|{{Composition bar|0|25|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 10
|{{decrease}} 1.58
|{{n/a}}
|-
|[[2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2011]]<br />
|8,88,364
|2.40%
|234
|{{Composition bar|10|12|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 1
|{{decrease}} 0.3
|{{yes2|Government}}
|-
|[[2006 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2006]]<br />
|8,72,674
|2.70%
|234
|{{Composition bar|9|13|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 10
|{{increase}} 0.33
|{{yes2|Government}}
|-
!colspan=8|[[Telangana Legislative Assembly]]
|-
|[[2023 Telangana Legislative Assembly election|2023]]<br />
|52,364
|0.22%
|119
|{{Composition bar|0|19|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 2
|{{decrease}} 0.18%
|{{n/a}}
|-
|[[2018 Telangana Legislative Assembly election|2018]]<br />
|91,099
|0.40%
|119
|{{Composition bar|2|28|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 1
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
!colspan=8|[[Tripura Legislative Assembly]]
|-
|[[2023 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|2023]]<br />
|6,22,829
|24.62%
|60
|{{Composition bar|11|43|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 5
|{{decrease}} 17.6
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
|[[2018 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|2018]]<br />
|9,93,605
|42.22%
|60
|{{Composition bar|16|57|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 33
|{{decrease}} 5.51
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
|[[2013 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|2013]]<br />
|10,59,327
|48.11%
|60
|{{Composition bar|49|57|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 3
|{{increase}} 0.01
|{{yes2|Government}}
|-
|[[2008 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|2008]]<br />
|9,03,009
|48.01%
|60
|{{Composition bar|46|56|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 8
|{{increase}} 1.10
|{{yes2|Government}}
|-
|[[2003 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|2003]]<br />
|7,11,119
|46.82%
|60
|{{Composition bar|38|55|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{steady}}
|{{increase}} 1.30
|{{yes2|Government}}
|-
|[[1998 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|1998]]<br />
|6,21,804
|45.49%
|60
|{{Composition bar|38|55|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 6
|{{increase}} 0.80
|{{yes2|Government}}
|-
|[[1993 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|1993]]<br />
|5,99,943
|44.78%
|60
|{{Composition bar|44|51|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 18
|{{decrease}} 0.40
|{{yes2|Government}}
|-
|[[1988 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|1988]]<br />
|5,20,697
|45.82%
|60
|{{Composition bar|26|55|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 11
|{{increase}} 0.10
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
!colspan=8|[[Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly]]
|-
|[[2022 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2022]]<br />
|5617
|0.01%
|403
|{{Composition bar|0|1|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{decrease}} 0.03
|{{n/a}}
|-
!colspan=8|[[West Bengal Legislative Assembly]]
|-
|[[2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2021]]<br />
|2,837,276
|4.73%
|294
|{{Composition bar|0|136|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 26
|{{decrease}} 15.02
|{{n/a}}
|-
|[[2016 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2016]]<br />
|10,802,058
|19.75%
|294
|{{Composition bar|26|148|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 14
|{{decrease}} 10.35
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
|[[2011 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2011]]<br />
|14,330,061
|30.08%
|294
|{{Composition bar|40|213|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 136
|{{decrease}} 7.05
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
|[[2006 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2006]]<br />
|14,652,200
|37.13%
|294
|{{Composition bar|176|212|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 33
|{{increase}} 0.54
|{{yes2|Government}}
|-
|[[2001 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2001]]<br />
|13,402,603
|36.59%
|294
|{{Composition bar|143|211|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 14
|{{decrease}} 1.33
|{{yes2|Government}}
|-
|[[1996 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1996]]<br />
|13,670,198
|37.16%
|294
|{{Composition bar|153|213|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 32
|{{increase}} 1.05
|{{yes2|Government}}
|-
|[[1991 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1991]]<br />
|11,418,822
|36.87%
|294
|{{Composition bar|182|204|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 2
|{{decrease}} 2.43
|{{yes2|Government}}
|-
|[[1987 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1987]]<br />
|10,285,723
|39.12%
|294
|{{Composition bar|187|212|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 13
|{{increase}} 0.89
|{{yes2|Government}}
|-
|[[1982 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1982]]<br />
|8,655,371
|38.49%
|294
|{{Composition bar|174|209|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 4
|{{increase}} 3.03
|{{yes2|Government}}
|-
|[[1977 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1977]]<br />
|5,080,828
|35.46%
|294
|{{Composition bar|178|224|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 164
|{{increase}} 8.01
|{{yes2|Government}}
|-
|}

== Indian general elections results ==
{{main|Electoral history of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Performance of Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Loksabha elections
!style="background:#FAA0A0"| Year
!style="background:#FAA0A0"| Legislature
!style="background:#FAA0A0"| Party Secretary
!style="background:#FAA0A0"| Total constituencies
!style="background:#FAA0A0"| Seats won / contested
!style="background:#FAA0A0"| Change in seats
!style="background:#FAA0A0"| Total votes
!style="background:#FAA0A0"| {{abbr|Per.|Percent}} of votes
!style="background:#FAA0A0"| Change in vote %
!style="background:#FAA0A0"| Party Rank
!style="background:#FAA0A0"| Outcome
!style="background:#FAA0A0"| {{ref.}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[1967 Indian general election|1967]]
|[[4th Lok Sabha]]
|rowspan=3| [[Puchalapalli Sundarayya]]
|520
|{{Composition bar|19|59|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|''New''
|6,246,522
|4.28 %
|''New''
|6th
|{{No2|Opposition}}
|<ref name="ECI1967" group="e">{{cite report |title=Statistical Report on General Elections, 1967 to the Fourth Lok Sabha |volume=1 |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1967/Vol_I_LS_67.pdf |work=Election Commission of India |location=New Delhi |year=1968 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226101610/http://eci.gov.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1967/Vol_I_LS_67.pdf |archive-date=26 December 2013 |access-date=18 October 2014 |page=78 |language=en-IN}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[1971 Indian general election|1971]]
|[[5th Lok Sabha]]
|518
|{{Composition bar|25|85|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 6
|7,510,089
|5.12 %
|{{increase}} 0.84%
|{{increase}} 2nd
|{{No|Main Opposition}}
|<ref name="ECI1971" group="e">{{cite report |title=Statistical Report on General Elections, 1967 to the Fourth Lok Sabha |volume=1 |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1971/Vol_I_LS71.pdf |work=Election Commission of India |location=New Delhi |year=1968 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021044322/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1971/Vol_I_LS71.pdf |archive-date=21 October 2013 |access-date=18 October 2014 |page=79 |language=en-IN}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[1977 Indian general election|1977]]
|[[6th Lok Sabha]]
|542
|{{Composition bar|22|53|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 3
|8,113,659
|4.29 %
|{{decrease}} 0.83%
|{{decrease}} 3rd
|{{No2|Opposition}}
|<ref name="ECI1977" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1977/Vol_I_LS_77.pdf |title=LS Statistical Report : 1977 Vol. 1 |work=[[Election Commission of India]] |access-date=18 October 2014 |page=89}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[1980 Indian general election|1980]]
|[[7th Lok Sabha]]
|rowspan=4| [[E. M. S. Namboodiripad]]
|529(542*)
|{{Composition bar|37|64|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 15
|12,352,331
|6.24 %
|{{increase}} 1.95%
|{{steady}} 3rd
|{{No2|Opposition}}
|<ref name="ECI1980" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1980/Vol_I_LS_80.pdf |title=LS Statistical Report : 1980 Vol. 1 |work=Election Commission of India |access-date=18 October 2014 |page=86}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[1984 Indian general election|1984]]
|[[8th Lok Sabha]]
|541
|{{Composition bar|22|64|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 15
|14,272,526
|5.72 %
|{{decrease}} 0.52%
|{{steady}} 3rd
|{{No2|Opposition}}
|<ref name="ECI1984" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1984/Vol_I_LS_84.pdf |title=LS Statistical Report : 1984 Vol. 1 |work=Election Commission of India |access-date=18 October 2014 |page=81}}</ref><ref name="ECI1985" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1985/Vol_I_LS_85.pdf |title=LS Statistical Report : 1985 Vol. 1 |work=Election Commission of India |access-date=18 October 2014 |page=15}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[1989 Indian general election|1989]]
|[[9th Lok Sabha]]
|529
|{{Composition bar|33|64|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 11
|19,691,309
|6.55 %
|{{increase}} 0.83
|{{decrease}} 4th
|{{Yes2|Outside Support}}
|<ref name="ECI1989" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1989/Vol_I_LS_89.pdf |title=LS Statistical Report : 1989 Vol. 1 |work=Election Commission of India |access-date=18 October 2014 |page=88}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[1991 Indian general election|1991]]
|[[10th Lok Sabha]]
|534
|{{Composition bar|35|63|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 2
|17,074,699
|6.14 %
|{{decrease}} 0.41%
|{{steady}} 4th
|{{No2|Opposition}}
|<ref name="ECI1991" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1991/VOL_I_91.pdf |title=LS Statistical Report : 1991 Vol. 1 |work=Election Commission of India |access-date=18 October 2014 |page=58}}</ref><ref name="ECI1992" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1992/GE_VOL_I_92.pdf |title=LS Statistical Report : 1992 Vol. 1 |work=Election Commission of India |access-date=18 October 2014 |page=13}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[1996 Indian general election|1996]]
|[[11th Lok Sabha]]
|rowspan=4| [[Harkishan Singh Surjeet]]
|543
|{{Composition bar|32|75|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 3
|20,496,810
|6.12 %
|{{decrease}} 0.02%
|{{steady}} 4th
|{{Yes2|Outside Support}}
|<ref name="ECI1996" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1996/Vol_I_LS_96.pdf |title=LS Statistical Report: 1996 Vol. 1 |work=Election Commission of India |access-date=18 October 2014 |page=93}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[1998 Indian general election|1998]]
|[[12th Lok Sabha]]
|543
|{{Composition bar|32|71|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{steady}}
|18,991,867
|5.16 %
|{{decrease}} 0.96%
|{{increase}} 3rd
|{{No2|Opposition}}
|<ref name="ECI1998" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1998/Vol_I_LS_98.pdf |title=LS Statistical Report: 1998 Vol. 1 |work=Election Commission of India |access-date=18 October 2014 |page=92 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718181833/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1998/Vol_I_LS_98.pdf |archive-date=18 July 2014}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[1999 Indian general election|1999]]
|[[13th Lok Sabha]]
|543
|{{Composition bar|33|72|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 1
|19,695,767
|5.40 %
|{{increase}} 0.24%
|{{steady}} 3rd
|{{No2|Opposition}}
|<ref name="ECI1999" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1999/Vol_I_LS_99.pdf |title=LS Statistical Report : 1999 Vol. 1 |work=[[Election Commission of India]] |access-date=18 October 2014 |page=92 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718183222/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1999/Vol_I_LS_99.pdf |archive-date=18 July 2014}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[2004 Indian general election|2004]]
|[[14th Lok Sabha]]
|543
|{{Composition bar|43|69|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 10
|22,070,614
|5.66 %
|{{increase}} 0.26%
|{{steady}} 3rd
|{{Yes2|Outside Support}}
|<ref name="ECI2004" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_2004/Vol_I_LS_2004.pdf |title=LS Statistical Report: 2004 Vol. 1 |work=[[Election Commission of India]] |access-date=18 October 2014 |page=101}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[2009 Indian general election|2009]]
|[[15th Lok Sabha]]
|rowspan=2| [[Prakash Karat]]
|543
|{{Composition bar|16|82|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 27
|22,219,111
|5.33 %
|{{decrease}} 0.33%
|{{decrease}} 8th
|{{No2|Opposition}}
|<ref name="ECI2009" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/archiveofge2009/Stats/VOLI/12_PerformanceOfNationalParties.pdf |title=LS 2009: Performance of National Parties |work=[[Election Commission of India]] |access-date=18 October 2014}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[2014 Indian general election|2014]]
|[[16th Lok Sabha]]
|543
|{{Composition bar|9|93|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 7
|17,986,773
|3.24 %
|{{decrease}} 2.09%
|{{decrease}} 9th
|{{No2|Opposition}}
|<ref name="ECI2014" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/archiveofge2014/4%20-%20List%20of%20Successful%20Candidates.pdf |title=LS 2014: List of successful candidates |work=[[Election Commission of India]] |access-date=18 October 2014 |page=93}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[2019 Indian general election|2019]]
|[[17th Lok Sabha]]
|rowspan=2|[[Sitaram Yechury]]
|543
|{{Composition bar|3|69|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 6
|10,744,908
|1.75 %
|{{decrease}} 1.49%
|{{decrease}} 16th
|{{No2|Opposition}}
|<ref name="ECI2019" group="e">{{cite web |url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/file/10987-4-list-of-successful-candidate |title=LS 2019: List of successful candidates |work=[[Election Commission of India]] |date=11 October 2019 |access-date=11 October 2019}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[2024 Indian general election|2024]]
|[[18th Lok Sabha]]
|543
|{{Composition bar|4|52|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 1
|11,342,553
|1.76%
|{{increase}} 0.01%
|{{increase}} 14th
|{{No2|Opposition}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://results.eci.gov.in/PcResultGenJune2024/index.htm|title=General Election to Parliamentary Constituencies: Trends & Results June-2024|access-date=5 June 2024}}</ref>
|}

=== 1967 general election ===
In the 1967 [[Lok Sabha]] elections, the CPI(M) nominated 59 candidates. In total 19 of them were elected. The party received 6.2 million votes (4.28% of the nationwide vote). By comparison, CPI won 23 seats and got 5.11% of the nationwide vote. In the state legislative elections held simultaneously, the CPI(M) emerged as a major party in Kerala and West Bengal. In Kerala, a United Front government led by E.M.S. Namboodiripad was formed.{{efn|In Kerala the United Front consisted, at the time of the election, of Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India, the [[Indian Union Muslim League|Muslim League]], the [[Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|Revolutionary Socialist Party]], the [[Karshaka Thozhilali Party]] and the [[Kerala Socialist Party]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kerala.gov.in/knowkerala/political.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=26 July 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060805205314/http://www.kerala.gov.in/knowkerala/political.htm |archive-date=5 August 2006}}</ref>}} In West Bengal, the CPI(M) was the main force behind the [[United Front (1967)|United Front]] government formed. The Chief Ministership was given to [[Ajoy Mukherjee]] of the [[Bangla Congress]] (a regional splinter group of the Indian National Congress).

=== 1971 general election ===
With the backdrop of the Bangladesh War and the emerging role of [[Indira Gandhi]] as a populist national leader, the 1971 election to the Lok Sabha was held. The CPI(M) contested 85 seats and won in 25. In total the party mustered 7510089 votes (5.12% of the national vote). 20 of the seats came from West Bengal (including [[Somnath Chatterjee]], elected from Burdwan), two from Kerala (including A.K. Gopalan, elected from Palakkad), two from Tripura (Biren Dutta and [[Dasarath Deb]]) and one from Andhra Pradesh.<ref group="e">{{cite web |url=http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/LS_1971/Vol_I_LS71.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070616182735/http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/LS_1971/Vol_I_LS71.pdf |url-status=dead |title=ECI: Statistical Report on the 1971 Lok Sabha Election |archive-date=16 June 2007}}</ref>

In the same year, state legislative elections were held in three states; West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and [[Odisha]]. In West Bengal CPI(M), had 241 candidates, winning 113 seats. In total the party mustered 4241557 votes (32.86% of the statewide vote). In Tamil Nadu CPI(M), contested 37 seats but won none of them, obtaining 259298 votes (1.65% of the statewide vote). In Odisha, the party contested 11 seats and won in two. The CPI(M) vote in the state was 52785 (1.2% of the statewide vote).<ref group="e">[http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1971/StatReport_OR_71.pdf ECI: Statistical Report on the 1971 Orissa Legislative Election] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070616182919/http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1971/StatReport_OR_71.pdf |date=16 June 2007}}, [http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1971/StatReport_TN_71.pdf ECI: Statistical Report on the 1971 Tamil Nadu Legislative Election] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070616183041/http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1971/StatReport_TN_71.pdf |date=16 June 2007}}, [http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1971/StatReport_WB_71.pdf ECI: Statistical Report on the 1971 West Bengal Legislative Election] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070616182944/http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1971/StatReport_WB_71.pdf |date=16 June 2007}}</ref>

=== 1977 general election ===
In the 1977 Lok Sabha election, the CPI(M) fielded its candidates on 53 seats scattered around in 14 states and union territories of India. It won 4.29% of the average votes polled in this election. The party had won 17 seats from West Bengal, three from Maharashtra, and one each from Odisha and Punjab. This election was done shortly after the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi and reflected a wide uproar of masses against her draconian rule. A coalition of Opposition parties was formed against the Congress regime; CPI(M) too supported this coalition by not fielding its candidates against the Janta Party.<ref group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1977/Vol_I_LS_77.pdf |title=1977 general elections ECI Report |access-date=27 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718185438/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1977/Vol_I_LS_77.pdf |archive-date=18 July 2014}}</ref>

=== 1980 general elections ===
The Janta Party coalition did not last long, and two years after its formation India faced the 1980 Lok Sabha election. This election saw an increase in the vote percentage of CPI(M) and the party secured more seats than the previous elections. The Party had contested elections in the 15 states and union territories of India and fielded its candidates on 64 seats. The party had won 37 seats in total. It won 28 seats in West Bengal, seven in Kerala, and two seats in Tripura. The party emerged out as the whole sole representative of the people of Tripura in this election.<ref group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1980/Vol_I_LS_80.pdf |title=1980 General Elections ECI Report |access-date=27 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718175926/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1980/Vol_I_LS_80.pdf |archive-date=18 July 2014}}</ref>

=== 2014 Lok Sabha election ===
{{further|List of Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidates in the 2014 Indian general election}}
Nine CPI(M) candidates were elected in the [[2014 Indian general election]], as well as two CPI(M)-supported independents.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/election-results-2014-lefts-performance-in-lok-sabha-polls-sees-drastic-decline/articleshow/35264970.cms?from=mdr|title=Election Results 2014: Left's performance in Lok Sabha polls sees drastic decline|newspaper=The Economic Times |date=17 May 2014 |access-date=23 March 2024}}</ref> This is further down from the previous number of 16. The national vote share of CPI(M) has also shrunk from 5.33% in 2009 to mere 3.28% in 2014. This is a significant 38.5% reduction within a span of five years which is consistent with the overall decline of the left in India.<ref>{{cite report |title=Archive of GE 2009 – Performance of National Parties |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/archiveofge2009/Stats/VOLI/12_PerformanceOfNationalParties.pdf |volume=1 |year=2009 |work=Election Commission of India |access-date=16 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209173959/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/archiveofge2009/Stats/VOLI/12_PerformanceOfNationalParties.pdf |archive-date=9 December 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite report |title=Archive of GE 2014 – Performance of National Parties |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/archiveofge2014/20%20-%20Performance%20of%20National%20Parties.pdf |year=2014 |publisher=[[Election Commission of India]] |access-date=16 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215073314/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/archiveofge2014/20%20-%20Performance%20of%20National%20Parties.pdf |archive-date=15 December 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/elections/left-out-rapid-decline-india-communist-parties|title=Left Out: The Rapid Decline of India's Communist Parties Continues|date=24 May 2019 |access-date=23 March 2024}}</ref> CPI(M) did not win a single seat in Tamil Nadu and its seats went down from 9 to 2 in West Bengal where it is being heavily eroded by [[Mamata Banerjee]] governed [[All India Trinamool Congress|AITC]]. Kerala is the only state where CPI(M) gained one more seat but this is mainly attributed to the splitting of anti-LDF votes between the UDF and emerging NDA. The NDA saw a sharp spike in vote share in decades which came coupled with a sharp decline in UDF votes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/minorityview/sharp-fall-in-the-udf-vote-share-marks-a-turning-point-in-kerala-politics/|title=Sharp fall in the UDF vote share marks a turning point in Kerala politics|newspaper=The Times of India |access-date=23 March 2024 |last1=Raghavan |first1=Pyaralal }}</ref> Thus, it is assumed that the NDA cut into UDF votes thereby facilitating victory for LDF. This was again mirrored during the 2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly election, which saw the NDA getting entry into the State Assembly for the first time as BJP veteran [[O. Rajagopal]] wins the Nemom seat and CPI(M)'s [[Pinarayi Vijayan]] forming the LDF-ruled government.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/cpim-led-ldf-regains-power-in-kerala-bjp-opens-account/articleshow/52345612.cms?from=mdr|title=CPI(M)-led LDF regains power in Kerala, BJP opens account|newspaper=The Economic Times |date=19 May 2016 |access-date=23 March 2024}}</ref>

=== 2019 general election ===
[[File:Indian Marxist graffiti 2004.jpg|thumb|Mural for CPI(M) candidate [[Sujan Chakraborty]] in [[Jadavpur]]]]
The CPI(M) contested on 69 seats nationwide and won three in the [[2019 Indian general election|2019 general election]]. One seat was won in Kerala, where the CPI(M) is leading the state government. Two other seats were won in Tamil Nadu, where the CPI(M) contested within the DMK-led coalition.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/west-bengal/all-but-one-left-front-candidates-lose-security-deposit-in-west-bengal/articleshow/69481742.cms?from=mdr |title=All but one Left Front candidates lose security deposit in West Bengal |newspaper=The Economic Times}}</ref>
=== 2024 general election===
The CPI(M) contested on 52 seats nationwide and won four in the [[2024 Indian general election|2024 general election]]. One seat was won in Kerala, One seat in Rajasthan and two more in Tamil Nadu under the-DMK led coalition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://results.eci.gov.in/PcResultGenJune2024/partywisewinresultState-547.htm|title=General Election to Parliamentary Constituencies: Trends & Results June-2024 Winning Candidate ( Communist Party of India (Marxist) )|access-date=5 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/elections/lok-sabha-election/poll-results-2024-tribal-party-bap-cpi-m-win-one-seat-each-in-rajasthan-124060401363_1.html|title=Poll results 2024: Tribal party BAP, CPI(M) win one seat each in Rajasthan|access-date=5 June 2024}}</ref>

== Indian Presidential elections==
=== 2002 presidential election ===
In the 2002 Presidential election, Left Front announced Captain [[Lakshmi Sehgal]] as its presidential candidate. Against her was the ruling [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]'s candidate [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]].<ref name="the_hindu">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2002/06/15/stories/2002061504230100.htm |title=Left parties to field Lakshmi Sahgal |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=15 June 2002 |access-date=29 June 2012 |location=New Delhi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109014435/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2002/06/15/stories/2002061504230100.htm |archive-date=9 November 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> CPI(M)'s leadership announced that in form of Captain Lakshmi, they were fielding an 'Alternative Candidate'. They said that though it was clear that Captain Lakshmi could not become president because of the opposition of the BJP-led [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] (NDA) and the [[Indian National Congress]] to her, yet through this Presidential Election, the Left wished to raise key national issues and make them heard by the masses.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pd.cpim.org/2002/july07/07072002_lakshmi_q&a.htm |title=question & answer on the election |work=cpim.org |access-date=11 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406213248/http://pd.cpim.org/2002/july07/07072002_lakshmi_q%26a.htm |archive-date=6 April 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Captain Lakshmi herself pointed out that this Presidential election reflected the opposition of the Indian Left to the communal-sectarian politics of BJP, and the Left's solidarity with the religious minorities who had suffered greatly under the NDA's leadership.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pd.cpim.org/2002/june23/06232002_lakshmi_interview.htm |title=interview with lakshmi sahgal |work=cpim.org |access-date=14 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725201958/http://pd.cpim.org/2002/june23/06232002_lakshmi_interview.htm |archive-date=25 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== 2012 Presidential election ===
While CPI(M) supported [[Pranab Mukherjee]] as presidential candidate in [[2012 Indian presidential election|2012 presidential election]], it was in favour of a non-Congress candidate for the post of the [[Vice-President of India|Vice-President]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/cpim-favours-noncongress-candidate-for-vp-post-prakash-karat/973500/ |title=CPI(M) favours non-Congress candidate for VP post: Prakash Karat |date=12 July 2012 |access-date=12 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317222928/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/cpim-favours-noncongress-candidate-for-vp-post-prakash-karat/973500/ |archive-date=17 March 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== List of chief ministers from CPI(M) ==
{{main|List of chief ministers from the Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Key
| style="background:#FFE6E6;"| {{dagger|alt=Current Chief Minister of the State}}
| Denotes the person is the incumbent chief minister
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
!style="background:#FAA0A0"|{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!style="background:#FAA0A0"| Name
!style="background:#FAA0A0"| Portrait
!colspan="2" style="background:#FAA0A0" | Term of office
!style="background:#FAA0A0"| Days in office
|-
! colspan="6" style="background:#FAA0A0"| [[List of chief ministers of Kerala|Kerala]]
|-
| 1
| [[E. M. S. Namboodiripad]]
|[[File:EMS Namboodiripad 2001 stamp of India (cropped) 1.jpg|100px|alt=A portrait of E.M.S. Namboodiripad]]
| 6 March 1967
| 1 November 1969
| 2 years 240 days
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2
| rowspan="3" | [[E. K. Nayanar]]
| rowspan="3" | [[File:E.K.Nayanar 1.jpg|100px]]
| 25 January 1980
| 20 October 1981
| rowspan="3"|10 years 353 days
|-
|26 March 1987
|23 June 1991
|-
|20 May 1996
|16 May 2001
|-
| 3
| [[V. S. Achuthanandan]]
|[[File:Vs achutanandann.jpg|100px|A photograph of V.S. Achutanandan]]
| 18 May 2006
| 17 May 2011
| 4 years 364 days
|- scope="row" style="text-align:center; background:#ffe6e6;"
| rowspan="2"|4
| rowspan="2"| [[Pinarayi Vijayan]]
| rowspan="2"| [[File:Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan 2023.tif|100px]]
| 25 May 2016
| 20 May 2021
|rowspan=2|{{age in years and days|2016|5|25}}
|- scope="row" style="text-align:center; background:#ffe6e6;"
| 20 May 2021
| ''Incumbent''
|-
! colspan="6" style="background:#FAA0A0"| [[List of chief ministers of Tripura|Tripura]]
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1
| rowspan="2"| [[Nripen Chakraborty]]
| rowspan="2"|[[File:Nripen Chakraborty.jpg|100px]]
| 5 January 1978
| 4 February 1983
| rowspan="2"|10 years 31 days
|-
|5 February 1983
|5 February 1988
|-
| 2
| [[Dasarath Deb]]
|[[File:Dasarathdeb160*150.jpg|100px|]]
| 10 April 1993
| 11 March 1998
| 4 years, 335 days
|-
| rowspan="4"| 3
| rowspan="4"| [[Manik Sarkar]]
| rowspan="4"|[[File:Manik Sarkar Official Portrait.jpg|100px]]
| 11 March 1998
| 26 February 2003
| rowspan="4"|19 years 363 days

|-
|27 February 2003
|23 February 2008
|-
|24 February 2008
|14 February 2013
|-
|15 February 2013
|8 March 2018
|-
! colspan="6" style="background:#FAA0A0"|[[List of chief ministers of West Bengal|West Bengal]]
|-
| rowspan="5"| 1
| rowspan="5"| [[Jyoti Basu]]
| rowspan="5"|[[File:Jyoti Basu - Calcutta 1996-12-21 089 Cropped.png|100px]]
| 21 June 1977
| 23 May 1982
| rowspan="5"|23 years 137 days
|-
|24 May 1982
|29 March 1987
|-
|30 March 1987
|18 June 1991
|-
|19 June 1991
|15 May 1996
|-
|16 May 1996
|5 November 2000
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2
| rowspan="3"| [[Buddhadeb Bhattacharya]]
| rowspan="3"|[[File:Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in 2006.jpg|100px]]
| 6 November 2000
| 14 May 2001
| rowspan="3"|10 years 188 days
|-
|15 May 2001
|17 May 2006
|-
|18 May 2006
|13 May 2011
|}

== List of Rajya Sabha members ==
{{see also|List of Rajya Sabha members}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="4" style="background:#FAA0A0" |Current [[Rajya Sabha]] members from CPI(M)
|-
! Name
! State
! Appointment date
! Retirement date
|-
|[[John Brittas]]
|[[Kerala]]
|{{dts|4 April 2021}}
|{{dts|23 April 2027}}
|-
|[[V. Sivadasan]]
|[[Kerala]]
|{{dts|24 April 2021}}
|{{dts|23 April 2027}}
|-
|[[A. A. Rahim (politician, born 1980)|A. A. Rahim]]
|[[Kerala]]
|{{dts| 3 April 2022}}
|{{dts|2 April 2028}}
|-
|'''[[Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya]]'''
|[[West Bengal]]
|{{dts|3 April 2020}}
|{{dts|2 April 2026}}
|}
* '''Bold''' indicates CPI(M) leader in Rajya Sabha

== List of Lok Sabha members ==
{{see also|List of members of the 18th Lok Sabha}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="3" style="background:#FAA0A0" |Current [[Lok Sabha]] ([[List of members of the 18th Lok Sabha|18th]]) members from CPI(M)
|-
! Name
! Constituency
! State
|-
|[[K. Radhakrishnan (politician)|K. Radhakrishnan]]
|[[Alathur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Alathur]]
|[[Kerala]]
|-
|Sachithanantham R
|[[Dindigul (Lok Sabha constituency)|Dindigul]]
|[[Tamil Nadu]]
|-
|[[S. Venkatesan]]
|[[Madurai (Lok Sabha constituency)|Madurai]]
|[[Tamil Nadu]]
|-
|'''[[Amra Ram]]'''
|[[Sikar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Sikar]]
|[[Rajasthan]]
|}
*

== Splits and offshoots ==
A large number of parties have been formed as a result of splits from the CPI(M), such as
* [[Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation|CPI(ML)L]]
* [[Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Red Flag|CPI(ML)RF]]
* [[Revolutionary Marxist Party of India|RMPI]]
* [[Marxist Communist Party of India (United)|MCPI(U)]]
* [[Party of Democratic Socialism (India)|PDS]] in West Bengal,
* [[Janganotantrik Morcha]] in Tripura
* [[Lok Sangharsh Morcha]] in [[Punjab, India|Punjab]],
* [[Odisha Communist Party|OCP]] in [[Odisha]]
* [[Communist Marxist Party|CMP(J)]] in Kerala.

== See also ==
{{portal|India|Politics|Communism|Socialism|Organized Labour}}
* [[Communist Party of India (Marxist), West Bengal]]
* [[Communist Party of India (Marxist), Kerala]]
* [[Communist Party of India (Marxist), Tripura]]
* [[List of political parties in India]]
* [[List of political parties in India]]
* [[List of communist parties in India]]
* [[List of communist parties]]
* [[Left Front (India)]]
* [[Left Democratic Front (Kerala)]]
* [[Left Front (West Bengal)]]
* [[Left Front (Tripura)]]
* [[Politics of India]]
* [[Politics of India]]
* [[List of Communist Parties]]
* [[Co-ordinating Committee of Communist Parties in Britain]]
* [[Communist Marxist Party]], in Kerala, south India
* [[Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists]], in West Bengal, India northern areas
* [[Election Results of Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
* [[Marxist Communist Party of India]]
* [[Marxist Communist Party of India (United)]]
* [[Marxist Periarist Communist Party]], in Tamil Nadu, India


== Notes ==
{{Indian political parties}}
{{notelist}}


==References==
== References ==
;Citations
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|30em}}
;Election reports
{{reflist|30em|group=e}}


== Sources ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Basu |first=Jyoti |author-link=Jyoti Basu |title=Memoirs – A Political Autobiography |location=[[Calcutta]] |publisher=National Book Agency |year=1999}}
* {{cite book |last=Basu |first=Pradip |title=Towards Naxalbari (1953–1967) – An Account of Inner-Party Ideological Struggle |location=Calcutta |publisher=Progressive Publishers |year=2000}}
* {{cite book |last=Bose |first=Shanti Shekar |title=A Brief Note on the Contents of Documents of the Communist Movement in India |year=2005 |publisher=National Book Agency |location=Kolkata}}
* {{cite book |last=Rao |first=M.V.S. Koteswara |title=Communist Parties and United Front – Experience in Kerala and West Bengal |location=Hyderabad, India |publisher=Prajasakti Book House |year=2003}}.
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
* {{Official website}}

{{Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
{{Indian political parties}}
{{Left Democratic Front (Kerala)}}
{{Marxism–Leninism}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
[[Category:Politics of Kerala]]
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[[Category:International Meeting of Communist and Workers Parties]]
[[ar:حزب الهند الشيوعي (الماركسي)]]
[[Category:Member parties of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance]]
[[bn:ভারতের কমিউনিস্ট পার্টি (মার্ক্সবাদী)]]
[[zh-min-nan:Ìn-tō͘ Kiōng-sán-tóng (Marx-chú-gī Phài)]]
[[be:Камуністычная партыя Індыі (марксісцкая)]]
[[ca:Partit Comunista de l'Índia (Marxista)]]
[[cs:Komunistická strana Indie (Marxistická)]]
[[de:Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
[[es:Partido Comunista de la India (Marxista)]]
[[fa:حزب کمونیست هند (مارکسیست)]]
[[fr:Parti communiste d'Inde (marxiste)]]
[[hi:भारत की कम्युनिस्ट पार्टी (मार्क्सवादी)]]
[[id:Partai Komunis India (Marxis)]]
[[it:Partito Comunista d'India (Marxista)]]
[[kn:ಭಾರತೀಯ ಕಮ್ಯುನಿಷ್ಟ್ ಪಕ್ಷ (ಮಾಕ್ಸ್‍ವಾದಿ)]]
[[ml:കമ്മ്യൂണിസ്റ്റ് പാര്‍ട്ടി ഓഫ് ഇന്ത്യ (മാര്‍ക്സിസ്റ്റ്)]]
[[mr:भारतीय कम्युनिस्ट पक्ष (मार्क्सवादी)]]
[[nl:Communistische Partij van India (Marxistisch)]]
[[ne:भारत कम्युनिष्ट पार्टी (मार्क्सवादी)]]
[[ja:インド共産党マルクス主義派]]
[[pms:CPI(M)]]
[[pl:Komunistyczna Partia Indii (Marksistowska)]]
[[pt:Partido Comunista da Índia (Marxista)]]
[[ro:Partidul Comunist din India (Marxist)]]
[[ru:Коммунистическая партия Индии (марксистская)]]
[[fi:Intian kommunistinen puolue (marxilainen)]]
[[sv:Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
[[tl:Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
[[ta:இந்திய பொதுவுடமைக் கட்சி (மார்க்சியம்)]]
[[te:కమ్యూనిస్టు పార్టీ ఆఫ్ ఇండియా (మార్కిస్టు)]]
[[tr:Hindistan Komünist Partisi (Marksist)]]
[[zh:印度共产党(马克思主义)]]

Latest revision as of 17:35, 18 December 2024

Communist Party of India (Marxist)
AbbreviationCPI(M), CPIM, CPM
General SecretaryVacant
PresidiumPolitburo
Rajya Sabha LeaderBikash Ranjan Bhattacharya
Founder
Founded7 November 1964 (60 years ago) (1964-11-07)
Split fromCommunist Party of India
HeadquartersA. K. Gopalan Bhawan, 27–29, Bhai Vir Singh Marg, New Delhi-110 001
NewspaperPeople's Democracy
Ganashakti
Deshabhimani
Theekkathir
Loklahar
Daily Desher Katha
Student wing
Youth wing
Women's wingAll India Democratic Women's Association
Labour wingCentre of Indian Trade Unions
Peasant's wing
MembershipIncrease 1 million+ (2023)[1][2][3][4]
IdeologyCommunism[5][6]
Marxism-Leninism[6]
Political positionLeft-wing[7]
International affiliationIMCWP
Colours  Red
ECI StatusNational Party
Alliance
Seats in Lok Sabha
4 / 543
Seats in Rajya Sabha
4 / 245
Seats in State legislatures
81 / 4,036
(Total)
State Legislatures
62 / 140
(Kerala)
10 / 60
(Tripura)
2 / 234
(Tamil Nadu)
2 / 243
(Bihar)
1 / 126
(Assam)
1 / 90
(Jammu & Kashmir)
1 / 147
(Odisha)
1 / 288
(Maharashtra)
Number of states and union territories in government
3 / 31
Election symbol
Hammer Sickle and Star
Party flag
Website
cpim.org

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (abbreviated as CPI(M)) is a communist political party in India.[5] It is the largest communist party in India in terms of membership and electoral seats, and one of the national parties of India.[8] The party was founded through a splitting from the Communist Party of India in 1964 and it quickly became the dominant faction.

The 34 years of CPI(M) led Left Front rule in West Bengal was the longest-serving democratically elected communist-led government in the world. It has been also the third largest party of parliament several times.[9] Presently, CPI(M) is a part of ruling alliances in two states - the LDF in Kerala, which it leads, and the SPA in Tamil Nadu. It also has representation in the legislative assemblies of seven states.

The All-India Party Congress is the supreme authority of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).[10] However, during the time between two party congresses, the Central Committee is the highest decision-making body.[10] The Central Committee shall elect from among its members a Polit Bureau including the General Secretary.[10] The Polit Bureau carries on the work of the Central Committee between its two sessions and has the right to take political and organisational decisions in between two meetings of the Central Committee.[10]

CPI(M) had a total income of ₹1,620,000,000 in fiscal year 2021–22. The party reported zero funding from Electoral Bonds.[11][12]

Name

[edit]

CPI(M) is officially known as भारत की कम्युनिस्ट पार्टी (मार्क्सवादी) [Bhārat kī Kamyunisṭ Pārṭī (Mārksvādī)] in Hindi, but it is often known as मार्क्सवादी कम्युनिस्ट पार्टी (Mārksvādī Kamyunisṭ Pārṭī, abbreviated MaKaPa) in press and media circles. During its initial years after the split, the party was often referred to by different names such as 'Left Communist Party' or 'Communist Party of India (Left)'. The party has used the name 'Left' because CPI people were dubbed 'rightist' in nature for their support of the Congress-Nehru regime. During the Kerala Legislative Assembly elections of 1965, the party adopted the name 'Communist Party of India (Marxist)' and applied to obtain its election symbol from the Election Commission of India.[13]

Background

[edit]
Guerrillas of the Telangana armed struggle (1946–1951)
CPI election campaign in Karol Bagh, Delhi, for the 1952 Indian general election
Swearing-in ceremony of E. M. S. Namboodiripad as first Chief Minister of Kerala, April 1957

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) emerged from a division within the Communist Party of India, which was formed on 26 December 1925.[14] The CPI had experienced an upsurge in support during the years following the World War II, and had led armed rebellions in Telangana, Tripura, and Kerala. However, it soon abandoned the strategy of armed revolution in favor of working within the Parliament framework. In 1950, B. T. Ranadive, the CPI general secretary and a prominent representative of the radical sector inside the party, was demoted on grounds of left-adventurism.[15]

Under the government of the Indian National Congress party of Jawaharlal Nehru, independent India developed close relations and a strategic partnership with the Soviet Union. The Soviet government consequently wished that the Indian communists moderate their criticism towards the Indian state and assume a supportive role towards the Congress governments. However, large sections of the CPI claimed that India remained a semi-feudal country and that Class conflict could not be put on the back-burner for the sake of guarding the interests of Soviet trade and foreign policy.[16] Moreover, the Indian National Congress appeared to be generally hostile towards political competition. In 1959 the central government intervened to impose President's rule in Kerala, toppling the E. M. S. Namboodiripad cabinet (the sole non-Congress state government in the country).[17]

History

[edit]

Formation (1964)

[edit]

The basis of difference in opinion between the two factions in CPI was ideological – about the assessment of the Indian scenario and the development of a party programme. This difference in opinion was also a reflection of whether the Communist Party in India would toe the lines of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) or follow an independent path based on the concrete analysis of the Indian situation. The alleged 'right-wing' inside the party followed the Soviet path[18] whereas the 'left-wing' wanted to follow the mass party with a class line with national characteristics, based on the 'independent' development of socialism in accordance to the India situation. Moreover, the faction of CPI which later became CPI(M) referred to the "right" strategy as a national approach of class collaboration, a damning charge within the communist movement, in which the prioritization of working-class interests and independence is considered paramount.[18][19] Ideological difference also grew on the analysis of the role and character of the Indian bourgeoisie and the character of the Indian revolution. While the 'right wing' in the Party sought the Indian bourgeoisie to have a 'progressive' character and called for a national democratic revolution, the 'left wing' sought the character of the Indian bourgeoisie to be essentially reactionary and called for a peoples' democratic revolution. However as the 'left wing' grew, the Congress and the Party's 'right wing' dubbed them as pro-Chinese and essentially made extensive efforts to incriminate them of committing 'anti-national' activities. This ideological difference later intensified, and ultimately gave rise to the establishment of CPI(M).[20]

Hundreds of CPI leaders, accused of being pro-Chinese, were imprisoned. Thousands of Communists were detained without trial.[a][18] The Communist Party CPI(M) has a strong history of championing labor rights[22] and it supports the rights of industrial laborers, demanding fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to unionize.

In 1962, Ajoy Ghosh, the General Secretary of the CPI died. After his death, Shripad Amrit Dange was installed as the party chairman (a new position) and E.M.S. Namboodiripad as general secretary. This was an attempt to achieve a compromise.

At a CPI National Council meeting held on 11 April 1964, 32 Council members walked out.[b]

The leftist section, to which the 32 National Council members belonged, organized a convention in Tenali, Andhra Pradesh 7 to 11 July. In this convention, the issues of the internal disputes in the party were discussed. 146 delegates, claiming to represent 100,000 CPI members, took part in the proceedings. The convention decided to convene the 7th Party Congress of CPI in Kolkata later the same year.[24]

Marking a difference from the official sector of CPI, the Tenali convention was marked by the display of a large portrait of the Communist leader of China, Mao Zedong.[24]

At the Tenali convention, a Bengal-based pro-Chinese group, representing one of the most radical streams of the CPI left-wing, presented a draft program proposal of their own. These radicals criticized the draft program proposal prepared by Makineni Basavapunnaiah for undermining Class conflict and failing to take a clear pro-Chinese position in the ideological conflict between the CPSU and the CPC.[c]

After the Tenali convention, the CPI left-wing organized party district and state conferences. In West Bengal, a few of these meetings became battlegrounds between the most radical elements and the more moderate leadership. At the Calcutta Party District Conference, an alternative draft program was presented to the leadership by Parimal Das Gupta (a leading figure amongst far-left intellectuals in the party). Another alternative proposal was brought forward to the Calcutta Party District Conference by Aziz ul Haq, but Haq was initially banned from presenting it by the conference organizers. At the Calcutta Party District Conference, 42 delegates opposed M. Basavapunniah's official draft program proposal.[26]

At the Siliguri Party District Conference, the main draft proposal for a party program was accepted, but with some additional points suggested by the far-left North Bengal cadre Charu Majumdar. However, Hare Krishna Konar (representing the leadership of the CPI left-wing) forbade the raising of the slogan Mao Tse-Tung Zindabad (Long live Mao Tse-Tung) at the conference.[26]

Parimal Das Gupta's document was also presented to the leadership at the West Bengal State Conference of the CPI leftwing. Das Gupta and a few others spoke at the conference, demanding the party ought to adopt the class analysis of the Indian state of the 1951 CPI conference. His proposal was, however, voted down.[26]

The Calcutta Congress was held between 31 October and 7 November, at Tyagraja Hall in southern Kolkata.[27] Simultaneously, the CPI convened a Party Congress in Mumbai. [28] The group which assembled in Calcutta would later adopt the name 'Communist Party of India (Marxist)', to differentiate themselves from the CPI. The CPI(M) also adopted its own political program. Puchalapalli Sundarayya was elected general secretary of the party.[18][19]

In total, 422 delegates took part in the Calcutta Congress. CPI(M) claimed that they represented 104,421 CPI members, 60% of the total party membership.[29]

At the Calcutta conference, the party adopted a class analysis of the character of the Indian state, that claimed the Indian bourgeoisie was increasingly collaborating with imperialism.[30]

Parimal Das Gupta's alternative draft program was not circulated at the Calcutta conference. However, Souren Bose, a delegate from the far-left stronghold Darjeeling, spoke at the conference asking why no portrait had been raised of Mao Tse-Tung along with the portraits of other communist stalwarts. His intervention was met with huge applause from conference delegates.[30]

Early years (1964–1966)

[edit]

The CPI (M) was born into a hostile political climate. At the time of the holding of its Calcutta Congress, large sections of its leaders and cadres were jailed without trial. Again on 29–30 December, over a thousand CPI (M) cadres were arrested and detained and held in jail without trial.[31] In 1965 new waves of arrests of CPI(M) cadres took place in West Bengal, as the party launched agitations against the rise in fares in the Calcutta Tramways Company and against the then-prevailing food crisis. Statewide general strikes and hartals were observed on 5 August 1965, 10–11 March 1966, and 6 April 1966.[31] The March 1966 general strike resulted in several deaths during confrontations with police forces.[31]

Also in Kerala, mass arrests of CPI(M) cadres were carried out during 1965. In Bihar, the party called for a Bandh (general strike) in Patna on 9 August 1965 in protest against the Congress state government.[31] During the strike, police resorted to violent actions against the organizers of the strike. The strike was followed by agitations in other parts of the state.[31]

P. Sundaraiah, after being released from jail, spent the period of September 1965 – February 1966 in Moscow for medical treatment. In Moscow, he also held talks with the CPSU.[31]

The Central Committee of CPI(M) held its first meeting on 12–19 June 1966. The reason for delaying the holding of a regular CC meeting was that several of the persons elected as CC members at the Calcutta Congress were jailed at the time.[d] A CC meeting had been scheduled to have been held in Thrissur during the last days of 1964, but had been canceled due to the wave of arrests against the party. The meeting discussed tactics for electoral alliances and concluded that the party should seek to form a broad electoral alliance with all non-reactionary opposition parties in West Bengal (i.e. all parties except Bharatiya Jana Sangh and Swatantra Party). This decision was strongly criticized by the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Party of Labour of Albania, the Communist Party of New Zealand, and the radicals within the party itself. The line was changed at a National Council meeting in Jalandhar in October 1966, where it was decided that the party should only form alliances with select left parties.[33]

Naxalbari uprising (1967)

[edit]

At this point, the party stood at crossroads. There were radical sections of the party who were wary of the increasing parliamentary focus of the party leadership, especially after the electoral victories in West Bengal and Kerala. Developments in China also affected the situation inside the party. In West Bengal, two separate internal dissident tendencies emerged, which both could be identified as supporting the Chinese line.[e]

In 1967, a peasant uprising broke out in Naxalbari, in northern West Bengal. The insurgency was led by hardline district-level CPI(M) leaders Charu Majumdar and Kanu Sanyal. The hardliners within CPI(M) saw the Naxalbari uprising as the spark that would ignite the Indian revolution. The CPC hailed the Naxalbari movement, causing an abrupt break in CPI(M)-CPC relations.[f]

The Naxalbari movement was violently repressed by the West Bengal government, of which CPI(M) was a major partner. Within the party, the hardliners rallied around an All India Coordination Committee of Communist Revolutionaries. [38] Following the 1968 Burdwan plenum of CPI(M) (held on 5–12 April 1968), the AICCCR separated itself from CPI(M).[39] This split divided the party throughout the country. But notably in West Bengal, which was the center of the violent radicalized stream, no prominent leading figure left the party. The party and the Naxalites (as the rebels were called) were soon to get into a bloody feud.[40]

In Andhra Pradesh, another revolt was taking place. There the pro-Naxalbari dissidents had not established any presence. But in the party organization, there were many veterans from the Telangana armed struggle, who rallied against the central party leadership. In Andhra Pradesh, the radicals had a strong base even amongst the state-level leadership. The main leader of the radical tendency was T. Nagi Reddy, a member of the state legislative assembly. On 15 June 1968, the leaders of the radical tendency published a press statement outlining the critique of the development of CPI(M). It was signed by T. Nagi Reddy, D.V. Rao, Kolla Venkaiah, and Chandra Pulla Reddy.[g]

In total, around 50% of the party cadres in Andhra Pradesh left the party to form the Andhra Pradesh Coordination Committee of Communist Revolutionaries, under the leadership of T. Nagi Reddy.[h]

Dismissal of United Front governments in West Bengal and Kerala (1967–1970)

[edit]
A tableau in a CPI(M) rally in Kerala, India showing two farmers forming the hammer and sickle.

In November 1967, the West Bengal United Front government was dismissed by the central government. Initially, the Indian National Congress formed a minority government led by Prafulla Chandra Ghosh, but that cabinet did not last long.[42] Following the proclamation that the United Front government had been dislodged, a 48-hour hartal was effective throughout the state.[43] After the fall of the Ghosh cabinet, the state was put under President's Rule. CPI(M) launched agitations against the interventions of the central government in West Bengal.[44][45]

The 8th Party Congress of CPI(M) was held in Kochi, Kerala, on 23–29 December 1968. On 25 December 1968, whilst the congress was held, 42 Dalits were burned alive in the Tamil Nadu village of Kizhavenmani. The massacre was a retaliation from landlords after Dalit labourers had taken part in a CPI(M)-led agitation for higher wages.[46][47]

The United Front government in Kerala was forced out of office in October 1969, as the CPI, RSP, KTP, and Muslim League ministers resigned. E.M.S. Namboodiripad handed in his resignation on 24 October.[48] A coalition government led by CPI leader C. Achutha Menon was formed, with the outside support of the Indian National Congress.

Elections in West Bengal and Kerala

[edit]

Fresh elections were held in West Bengal in 1969. CPI(M) contested 97 seats and won 80. The party was now the largest in the West Bengal legislative.[i] But with the active support of CPI and the Bangla Congress, Ajoy Mukherjee was returned as Chief Minister of the state. Mukherjee resigned on 16 March 1970, after a pact had been reached between CPI, Bangla Congress, and the Indian National Congress against CPI(M). CPI(M) strove to form a new government, instead but the central government put the state under President's Rule.

Land Reform

[edit]

Though land reform was successfully done in three Indian states (West Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu), India's first land reform was done in West Bengal in 1967, under the leadership of two Communist leaders: Hare Krishna Konar and Benoy Choudhury, in which Hare Krishna Konar played a leading role in getting surplus land held by big land owners in excess of land ceiling laws and kept ‘benami' (or false names) vested with the state. The quantum of land thus vested was around one million acres (4,000 km2) of good agricultural land. Subsequently, under the leadership of Hare Krishna Konar and Benoy Choudhury land was distributed amongst 2.4 million landless and poor farmers. Later after 1970 the united front government of west Bengal fail and the land reform was also stopped for seven years and after left front came in West Bengal in 1977 this land reform was renamed to Operation Barga and this barga was the notable contribution to the people from Left Front Government of West Bengal. To begin with, group meetings between Officials and Bargadars were organized during "settlement camps" (also called "Reorientation camps"), where the bargadars could discuss their grievances. The first such camp was held at Halusai in Polba taluk in Hooghly district from 18 to 20 May 1978. In noted camp, two Adibashi Borgaders objected procedure adopted by the official for Barga Operation. They suggested to start it organising people in the field instead of sitting in the houses of rural rich people or the places dominated by them.[49][50][51]

Formation of CITU (1970)

[edit]

Centre of Indian Trade Unions, CITU is a National level Trade Union in India and its trade union wing is a spearhead of the Indian Trade Union Movement.[52] The Centre of Indian Trade Unions is today one of biggest assembly of workers and classes of India. It has strong unchallengeable presence in the Indian state of Tripura besides a good presence in West Bengal, Kerala and Kanpur. They have an average presence in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

A CITU rally in Pondicherry.

According to the provisional statistics from the Ministry of Labour, CITU had a membership of approximately 6,040,000 in 2015.[53]

Tapan Kumar Sen is the General Secretary and K. Hemalata is the president of CITU. K. Hemalata was the first woman President in CITU who was elected after A. K. Padmanabhan.[54] It runs a monthly organ named WORKING CLASS.

CITU is affiliated to the World Federation of Trade Unions.[55]

Outbreak of war in East Pakistan (1971–1972)

[edit]

In 1971, Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) declared its independence from Pakistan. The Pakistani military tried to quell the uprising. India intervened militarily and gave active backing to the Bangladeshi rebels.[56] Millions of Bangladeshi refugees sought shelter in India, especially in West Bengal.[57]

At the time, the radical sections of the Bangladeshi communist movement were divided into many factions. Whilst the pro-Soviet Communist Party of Bangladesh actively participated in the rebellion, the pro-China communist tendency found itself in a peculiar situation as China had sided with Pakistan in the war. In Calcutta, where many Bangladeshi leftists had sought refuge, CPI(M) worked to co-ordinate the efforts to create a new political organization. In the fall of 1971 three small groups, which were all hosted by the CPI(M), came together to form the Bangladesh Communist Party (Leninist). The new party became the sister party of CPI(M) in Bangladesh.[j]

Boycott of Assembly and Emergency rule (1972–1977)

[edit]

In 1975, the Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi imposed a State of emergency on the premise of internal disturbances suspending elections, legitimising rule by decree and curbing civil liberties.[58] The proposition for the declaration of the emergency and the formal draft of the ordinance were both notably corroborated to have been forwarded by Siddhartha Shankar Ray.[59][60][61] The Communist Party of India (Marxist) emerged as one of the primary opposition to The Emergency (India).[58] The following period witnessed a succession of authoritarian measures and political repression, which was particularly severe in West Bengal.[62] The members of the CPI-M's labour union became the first subject to political repression and mass arrests while the rest of the members of the CPI-M went underground.[63]

With the initiation of the Jayaprakash Narayan (JP)'s movement, the CPI-M began providing support to it and went on to participate in discussions for the creation of a united front under the umbrella of the Janata Party. Several of the leaders of the CPI-M were also influenced by JP with Jyoti Basu noted to be one of his prominent admirers having worked under him in the All India Railwaymen's Federation during the 1940s.[63] The involvement of the Hindutva movement however complicated matters, according to JP the formal inclusion of the marxists who had undergone a splintering and whose organisation was localised in particular region would have been detrimental to the movement as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh members would switch sides if they joined.[63][64] JP and Basu eventually came to an agreement that the CPI-M would not formally join the Janata Party as it would weaken the movement.[63] After the revocation of the emergency, the CPI-M joined an electoral alliance with the Janata Party in the 1977 Indian general election which resulted in an overwhelming victory for the Janata Alliance.[65]

Left Front Government formation in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura assembly (1977 afterwards)

[edit]

West Bengal

[edit]

CPI(M) West Bengal under the leadership of Jyoti Basu fought the 1977 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election. Initially the election was planned to fight in alliance with the Janata Party but the negotiations between the parties broke down. [66] This led to a three sided contested between the Indian National Congress, the Janata Party and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) led Left Front coalition. The results of the election was a surprising sweep for the Left Front winning 230 seats out of 290 with the CPI-M winning an absolute majority on its own, Basu became the Chief Minister of West Bengal. From the 1977 election the CPI(M) led Left Front won 7 continuous elections till 2011. Under Jyoti Basu's leadership the Left Front won, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1991, 1996 elections. For the next 23 years he was the Chief Minister of West Bengal making him longest serving at this position. [67]

In the late 2000s the Left Front saw a change in leadership. Under the leadership of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the Left Front won the elections of 2001 elections and 2006. From 2000 to 2011, remained the Chief Minister of West Bengal for 11 years.

Following the events of 2007 Nandigram anti land acquisition violence[68] and the 2006 Singur anti land acquisition violence, led by opposition parties in West Bengal. In the 2011 assembly election lost the elections marking the end of 34-year rule of Left Front, the longest-serving democratically elected communist government in the world, a fact that was noted by international media.[69][70] After 2021 elections the Left Front has no representatives in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.

Kerala

[edit]

After the CPI split in 1964, prominent communist leader in Kerala E.M.S. Namboodiripad, A. K. Gopalan and K. R. Gouri Amma stood with the Communist Party of India (Marxist). One year after the split, in the 1965 elections CPI(M) which was splinter faction of CPI, emerged as the largest party in the assembly with 40 seats. Where CPI settled with 3 seats only. However no single party could form a ministry commanding majority and hence this election is considered abortive. President's rule was invoked for the fourth time.[71][72]

In the 1967 Kerala assembly election both communist parties - CPI (M) and CPI - along with smaller parties including SSP and Muslim League contested this election as a United Front. A total of seven parties contested in the front, and the front was known as Saptakakshi Munnani.[73] The CPI(M) led front won the election with a record 113 seats out of 133 seats and formed the government under E.M.S. Namboodiripad.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, two main pre-poll political alliances were formed: the Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Communist Party of India and the United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the Indian National Congress. These pre-poll political alliances of Kerala have stabilized strongly in such a manner that, with rare exceptions, most of the coalition partners stick their loyalty to the respective alliances (Left Democratic Front or United Democratic Front).

LDF first came into power in Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1980 under the leadership of E. K. Nayanar who later became the longest serving Chief minister of Kerala, ever since 1980 election, the power has been clearly alternating between the two alliances till the 2016. In 2016, LDF won the 2016 election and had a historic re-election in 2021 election where an incumbent government was re-elected for first time in 40 years. Pinarayi Vijayan is the first chief minister of Kerala to be re-elected after completing a full term (five years) in office.[74]

Tripura

[edit]

Under the leadership of Nripen Chakraborty, the CPI(M) led Left Front won the 1977 assembly elections. Nripen Chakraborty, became the first Chief minister of Tripura from CPI(M). In the next 1983 assembly elections the incumbent government of Left Front was again re-elected and therefore it was in the government for 10 years.[75] In 1988 assembly elections CPI(M) was out of power for 5 years despite being the largest party by seats won. In 1993 assembly elections, the Left Front won the elections and Dasarath Deb sworn in as the Chief minister of Tripura.

From 1993 to 2013, the Left Front won 5 elections continuously. Since the 1998 assembly elections, Manik Sarkar was the Chief minister of Tripura for 20 years making him the longest serving at the position in Tripura. Under his leadership the Left Front has won 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2013. Currently, CPI(M) is the main opposition party in the Tripura Legislative Assembly.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) is the dominant party in the coalition.[75][76] The other four members of the Left Front are the Communist Party of India, the Revolutionary Socialist Party, the All India Forward Bloc and the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation.[77]

International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties

[edit]

In 2009, CPI(M) hosted 11th International Communist Parties Meeting in New Delhi. The summit was attended by 57 communist parties from 48 countries.[78]

Leadership and organisation

[edit]

Leadership

[edit]

The 23rd Congress of the CPI(M) held between April 6th and 10th 2022 at Kannur, Kerala elected a 85 member Central Committee with one seat left vacant. There are also three special invitees and two permanent invitees to the Central Committee. The Central Committee at its meeting held on April 10th, 2022 at the conclusion of the Congress elected a 17 member Polit Bureau. The Central Committee also re-elected Com. Sitaram Yechury as the General Secretary. Currently the post of General Secretary is vacant after the death of Sitaram Yechury on 12th September 2024. :[79]

Politburo members

[edit]
No. Portrait Name State From (Year)
1 Sitaram Yechury
(General Secretary till death on 12 September 2024)
Andhra Pradesh 1992
2 Prakash Karat
(Former General Secretary)
New Delhi 1992
3 Manik Sarkar
(Former Chief Minister of Tripura)
Tripura 1998
4 Pinarayi Vijayan
(Chief Minister of Kerala)
Kerala 2002
5 Brinda Karat New Delhi 2005
6 B. V. Raghavulu Andhra Pradesh 2005
7 Surjya Kanta Mishra West Bengal 2012
8 M. A. Baby Kerala 2012
9 Mohammed Salim West Bengal 2015
10 Subhashini Ali Uttar Pradesh 2015
11 G. Ramakrishnan Tamil Nadu 2015
12 Tapan Kumar Sen West Bengal 2018
13 Nilotpal Basu West Bengal 2018
14 M. V. Govindan Kerala 2022
15 Ram Chandra Dome West Bengal 2022
16 Ashok Dhawale Maharashtra 2022
17 A. Vijayaraghavan Kerala 2022

The 23rd party congress newly inducts Ramchandra Dome, Ashok Dhawale and A. Vijayraghavan into the Politburo.[79][80][81]

General Secretary

[edit]
Communist Party of India (Marxist)
AKG Bhavan, the CPI(M) national headquarters in Delhi 28°37′53.6″N 77°12′17.9″E / 28.631556°N 77.204972°E / 28.631556; 77.204972

Article XV, Section 15 of the party constitution says:

"No person can hold the position of the General Secretary for more than three full terms. Full term means the period between two Party Congresses. In a special situation, a person who has completed three full terms as General Secretary may be re-elected for a fourth term provided it is so decided by the Central Committee with a three-fourth majority. But in no case can that person be elected again for another term in addition to the fourth term."[82]

List of General Secretaries[83]
S. No. Term Portrait Name State References
1 1964–1978 Puchalapalli Sundarayya Andhra Pradesh [84][85]
After the split of the Communist Party of India in the 7th General meeting, a new political outfit was formed Communist Party of India (Marxist). Puchalapalli Sundarayya was elected as its General Secretary.
2 1978–1992 E. M. S. Namboodiripad Kerala [86][87]
The two time Chief Minister of Kerala, E. M. S. Namboodiripad was elected as the General Secretary in the 10th party Congress.
3 1992–2005 Harkishan Singh Surjeet Punjab [88]
Harkishan Singh Surjeet came to head the CPI-M as its general secretary in 1992, an influential post he held until 2005 when failing health forced him into virtual retirement.
4 2005–2015 Prakash Karat Kerala [89]
Prakash Karat was elected as the general secretary in the 18th party Congress. He was re-elected again to hold office until 2015.
5 2015–2024 Sitaram Yechury Andhra Pradesh [90][91]
Sitaram Yechury was first elected as the party general secretary during the 21st party Congress at Visakhapatnam in April 2015. He was re-elected to the post at the 22nd party Congress at Hyderabad on April 18, 2018. Again re-elected for the third time at 23rd Party Congress held at Kannur, Kerala in April 2022. Sitaram Yechury died on 12th September 2024. He was the only General Secretary in the history of the party to die in office.

State Secretary

[edit]
State State Secretary
Andaman and Nicobar Islands D. Ayyappan
Andhra Pradesh V. Srinivasa Rao
Assam Suprakash Talukdar
Bihar Lalan Chaudhary
Delhi Anurag Saxena
Chhattisgarh Sanjay Parate
Goa Victor Savio Bragança
Gujarat Hitendra Bhatt
Haryana Surender Singh Malik
Himachal Pradesh Sanjay Chauhan
Jharkhand Prakash Viplav
Jammu Kashmir Ghulam Ali Malik
Karnataka U. Basavaraj
Kerala M. V. Govindan
Madhya Pradesh Jaswinder Singh
Maharashtra Uday Narkar
Manipur Kshetrimayum Santa
Odisha Suresh Chandra Panigrahi
Punjab Sukhwinder Singh Sekhon
Puducherry S. Ramachandran
Rajasthan Kishan Pareek
Tamil Nadu K. Balakrishnan
Telangana Tammineni Veerabhadram
Tripura Jitendra Choudhury
Uttar Pradesh Heera Lal Yadav
Uttarakhand Rajendra Negi
West Bengal Mohammed Salim

Principal mass organisations

[edit]
CPI(M) 18th Congress rally in Delhi

International affiliation

[edit]

Communist Party of India Marxist is internationally affiliated to IMCWP and Unity for Peace and Socialism. Its members in Great Britain are in the electoral front Unity for Peace and Socialism, with the Communist Party of Britain and the British-domiciled sections of the Communist Party of Bangladesh and the Communist Party of Greece (KKE). It stood 13 candidates in the London-wide list section of the London Assembly elections in May 2008.[92]

Presence in states and politics

[edit]

As of 2022, the CPI(M) heads the state government in Kerala. Pinarayi Vijayan is Chief Minister of Kerala. In Tamil Nadu it has 2 MLAs and in the Government with SPA coalition led by M. K. Stalin. The Left Front under CPI(M) governed West Bengal for an uninterrupted 34 years (1977–2011) and Tripura for 30 years, including 25 uninterrupted years between 1993 and 2018. The 34 years of Left Front rule in West Bengal is the longest-serving democratically elected communist-led government in the world.[93] CPI(M) currently has three MPs in Lok Sabha. CPI(M)'s highest tally was in 2004 when it got 5.66% of votes polled in and it had 43 MPs. It won 42.31% on an average in the 69 seats it contested. It supported the new Indian National Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government, but without becoming a part of it. On 9 July 2008, it formally withdrew support from the UPA government explaining this by differences about the Indo-US nuclear deal and the IAEA Safeguards Agreement in particular.[94]

Current government in State legislative assemblies

[edit]
Sr No. State Govt Since Chief Minister Alliance Name Parties in Alliance Seats in Assembly
Name Party Party seats
CPI(M) Government
1 Kerala 26 May 2016 Pinarayi Vijayan CPI(M) 62 Left Democratic Front CPI (17)
99 / 140
KC(M) (5)
JD(S) (2)
NCP (2)
KC(B) (1)
INL (1)
LJD (1)
C(S) (1)
JKC (1)
IND (6)
Alliance Government
2 Tamil Nadu 7 May 2021 M. K. Stalin DMK 133 Secular Progressive Alliance INC(18)
159 / 234
VCK (4)
CPI (2)
CPI(M) (2)
3 Jammu and Kashmir 1 October 2024 Omar Abdullah JKNC 42 INDIA INC(6)
49 / 95
CPI(M) (1)

Current seats in State legislative assemblies

[edit]
Seats won by CPI(M) in state legislative assemblies
State legislative assembly Last election Contested
seats
Seats won Alliance Result Ref.
Assam Legislative Assembly 2021 2
1 / 126
United Opposition Forum Opposition [e 2]
Bihar Legislative Assembly 2020 4
2 / 243
Mahagathbandhan Opposition [95]
Kerala Legislative Assembly 2021 77
62 / 140
Left Democratic Front Government [e 3]
Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly 2024 1
1 / 90
INDIA Government
Maharashtra Legislative Assembly 2024 3
1 / 288
Maha Vikas Aghadi Opposition [96]
Odisha Legislative Assembly 2024 7
1 / 147
Others [97]
Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly 2021 6
2 / 234
Secular Progressive Alliance Government [e 4]
Tripura Legislative Assembly 2023 43
11 / 60
Left Front Opposition [e 5]

Presence in Legislatures, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and local bodies by states or union territories

[edit]

Andhra Pradesh

[edit]
Chennamaneni Rajeshwara Rao in an election rally in 1957.

After formation of CPIM, CPIM came victorious in nine seats in 1967, one seat in 1972, eight seats in 1978, five seats in 1983, 11 seats in 1985, in six seats in 1989, 15 seats in 1994, two seats in 1999, nine seats in 2004 and one seat in 2009. In 2014, CPIM won in one seat, which subsequently went to Telangana state. However, in 2019 CPIM won no seats. CPIM came victorious for many times in local body elections.[98] During the 1988 Lok Sabha election, Tammineni Veerabhadram, one of prominent politicians of CPIM, gathered 352,083 votes (39.01%), finishing in second place, becoming the most voted CPI(M) candidate up to then outside of the left strongholds like West Bengal and Kerala.[99]

CPIM had MPs in Andhra Pradesh rajyasabha multiple times including M. Hanumantha Rao from 1988 to 1994, Yalamanchili Radhakrishna Murthy from 1996 to 2002 and Penumalli Madhu from 2004 to 2010.

Assam

[edit]

CPIM has a moderate presence in Assam and had run Government in the state once. CPIM first time entered Assam Legislative Assembly in 1978 by winning 11 seats followed by two seats in 1983, two seats in 1985 and two seats in 1991. In the 1996 elections, CPIM won two seats with 1,76,721 votes.[100] and along with Asom Gana Parishad they were in coalition government headed by Prafulla Kumar Mahanta for 1996–2001.[101] But in 2001 elections, it drew blanks. In 2006, the CPI (M) had won two seats. Ananta Deka, Uddhav Barman represented CPIM from Rangia and Sorbhog seats. In 2011 and in 2016, CPIM drew blanks.[101] In 2021, CPIM made a comeback with Mahajot winning one seat from Sorbhog by a margin of around 10,000 votes.[101] Sorbhog is considered as a left bastion in the state.

In lok sabha from Assam, CPIM first won in 1974 when Nurul Huda was elected in a by-election in Cachar lok sabha constituency in early 1974 by-elections. He defeated the Indian National Congress candidate and former Minister Mahitosh Purkayastha by a margin of 19,944 votes.[102] CPIM had also won one seat in 1980, one seat in 1991 and one seat in 1996.

Bihar

[edit]

CPIM Bihar has its large roots in the peasant movements by undivided CPI in the state. Communists were actively involved in various movements from the 1920s. All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) was founded in 1936, which predominantly became active in Bihar. By 1942, AIKS and communists dominated the peasant movement in the country. The members of AIKS or Kisan Sabha were mostly communists. This created a political and social base for communists in Bihar. Sahajanand Saraswati, Karyanand Sharma, Bhogendra Jha were most notable leaders of the movement.[103] Afterwards Bakasht movement (1946–1952), Madhubani movement, Darbhanga movement mobilised Left politics in the state. Though after 1967, neither CPIM nor CPI(ML), which was formed in 1969, grew as an alternative to CPI until the 2000s.[104]

CPIM won four seats in 1967, three seats in 1969, 18 seats in 1972, four seats in 1977, seats in 1980, one seat in 1985, six seats in 1990, two seats in 1995, two seats in 2000, one seat in February 2005, and a seat in October 2005. The party drew blanks in 2010 and 2015; howeverm it did come back in 2020 elections by winning two seats.[105][106] CPIM fought election in alliance with Rastriya Janata Dal and fared well. It is also speculated that if more seats were given to the left parties, the election could be won with majority.[107]

CPIM had representatives in Lok Sabha from Bihar only for three times: 1999, 1991 and 1989; each year, it won only one Lok Sabha seat. CPIM also has good presence in the panchayats.

CPIM supported JD(U), RJD and INC to form coalition government in Bihar in August, 2022. However, it did not take part in the government.

Chhattisgarh

[edit]

CPIM registered its first victory in polls in the Chhattisgarh state in the 2019 municipal corporation elections, in which it bagged two wards. Surthi Kuldeep won Bairotil ward and Rajkumari won in Monkre ward.[108]

Gujarat

[edit]

CPIM has a limited presence in Gujarat. The party never won any Vidhan Sabha or Lok Sabha seat from Gujarat, though a bit number of panchayat seats are often won. But in 2020, CPIM's student wing SFI historically won the elections of Central University of Gujarat, which is considered as a right-wing bastion in India.[109]

Himachal Pradesh

[edit]

CPIM has the presence in Himachal Pradesh in areas like Summer Hill,[110] Shimla city, Theog etc. CPIM's student wing SFI has considerably presence in the Himachal Pradesh University.[111] CPIM had representatives in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1967 and 1993. In 1993, Rakesh Singha won from Shimla seat.[112] However, CPIM managed to win many seats in the municipal and panchayat elections.[111]

In 2012, Shimla Municipal Corporation election, CPI(M) won the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor in Shimla Municipal Corporation with a huge majority with a total of 3 seats.[113]

In 2016, CPIM won 42 seats out of 331 seats contested and received only two district panchayats. In the 2017 Shimla Municipal Corporation election, CPI(M) managed to win only one seat despite being a kingmaker in previous elections.

In 2017, CPIM made a comeback in Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly after 24 years by winning Theog assembly seat. Rakesh Singha, a former CPIM Central Committee member won the seat by a margin of 1,983 seats.[110] CPIM contested for 14 seats in the election. After the election, the presence in state started to increase.[114]

In 2021, panchayat elections, CPIM increased its tally by jumping to 337 seats. 12 zila parishad (ZP) members, 25 panchayat samiti members, 28 panchayat pradhans, 30 vice-pradhans and 242 ward members got elected from CPIM. Also, CPIM candidates got elected for president in 25 panchayats and vice-president in 30 panchayats.[115][116]

Karnataka

[edit]

CPIM has not won any seat in Karnataka since 2004. In 2004, CPIM won 1 seat; in 1994, it won 1 seat; in 1985, it won two seats and in 1983, it won two seats in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.

Kerala

[edit]

Kerala has a strong presence of CPIM and left parties in its politics and society.[117] CPIM had the most of its electoral success from Kerala after 2011. After 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election, it historically formed Government twice breaking the 40 year old political practice of the state. CPIM currently has 62 seats in the assembly.

A Child from Kerala holding Communist Party of India (Marxist) Flag

In Kerala, the CPIM has pursued a policy of massive investment in poverty alleviation, including the distribution of procurement cards that provide almost free access to basic foodstuffs and the introduction of a minimum wage twice the national average, as well as in education and health. According to geographer Srikumar Chattopadhyay, "The communists also strongly developed the panchayat system, the village councils that allow everyone to participate in the development of the state."[118]

Madhya Pradesh

[edit]

CPIM has entered in Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly only once. In 1993 CPIM won 1 seat.[119]

Maharashtra

[edit]

Currently the party has one representative in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. CPI(M) candidate Comrade Vinod Nikole, an Adivasi leader and CPI(M) Maharashtra State Committee member won the Dahanu by a margin of 4,742 votes. As of 2020, he is also the State Secretary and Thane-Palghar District Secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). Notably, the seat was won by CPIM simultaneously from 1978 with just a single exception of 2014.[120]

Manipur

[edit]

CPIM never won a single seat in Manipur since the party participated in 1995 Legislative Assembly election for the first time in the state. Currently, CPIM is a part of Manipur Progressive Secular Alliance, an alliance led by Indian National Congress.[121]

Odisha

[edit]

Presently, CPIM has only one representative in Odisha Legislative Assembly from Bonai.[122]

Punjab

[edit]

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Punjab has an eventful history, connected with the state's socio-political landscape and its struggle for workers' rights, agrarian reforms, and social justice.[123] The roots of the CPI(M) in Punjab can be traced back to the early 20th century with the emergence of various revolutionary movements. Two significant organizations that played a crucial role in shaping the communist movement in Punjab were the Gaddar Party, formed in 1913, and the Lal Communist Party, established in 1928. While the Gaddar Party aimed at seeking India's independence from British colonial rule through armed resistance, the Lal Communist Party focused on empowering peasants and labourers through revolutionary means.

After India gained independence in 1947, the Communist Party of India (CPI) was formed through the amalgamation of various leftist groups, including the Lal Communist Party. However, ideological differences within the CPI led to a split, resulting in the formation of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M) in 1964. The CPI(M) in Punjab has consistently advocated for land reforms, workers' rights, and social equality. It has garnered support among the rural and urban poor, particularly in areas with a strong agrarian base. The party actively participated in various social and political movements, aiming to uplift the marginalized sections of society and improve their living conditions.[124]

During the 1980s, Punjab faced a crisis with the rise of the Khalistan movement, seeking a separate Sikh state. The Khalistan movement posed a significant challenge to not only the Indian state but also to Punjab. During this period, the CPI(M) opposed the Khalistan movement and stood for a united India. In the late 1990s, the CPI(M) faced internal divisions, leading to a significant split. One prominent faction led by Mangat Ram Pasla formed a new party called the Communist Party of Marxist (CPM) in Punjab, pursuing its own ideological path. This internal rift had an impact on the party's organizational structure and electoral presence.[125]

Over the years, the CPI(M) experienced a waning presence on the electoral front in Punjab.[126] The changing political dynamics, rise of regional parties, and the diminishing appeal of communist ideology in a globalized world contributed to its reduced influence in electoral politics. Despite the challenges, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Punjab continues to be active in advocating for workers' and peasants' rights and participating in social and political movements. Its history reflects the complexities of Punjab's political landscape and its contribution to the larger communist movement in India.

Rajasthan

[edit]

In the 2008 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election, CPIM secured three seats from Anupgarh, Dhod and Danta Ramgarh.[127] Along with six other parties, CPIM formed Loktantrik Morcha in 2013. However, CPIM could not win any seats in the 2013 Legislative Assembly election. The party made a comeback in the state by winning two seats out 28 seats they contested in the 2018 Legislative Assembly election.[128]

Tamil Nadu

[edit]
Members of CPI(M) Tamil Nadu during an inauguration ceremony of a building

CPIM, as a part of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam front in 1989 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, won 15 seats.[129] In 2006, CPIM was the part of the alliance led by DMK. The party contested in 13 seats and won 9 seats. In the next election, CPIM joined All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam coalition and won 10 seats out of the 12 seats they contested. But the party was unable to secure any seat in 2016.[130] In 2019 Indian general election, CPIM won two seats from Coimbatore and Madurai in Tamil Nadu.[131] In 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, CPIM made a comeback by winning two seats. In 2022, CPI(M) won many seats in the municipal corporation elections. T. Nagarajan of CPI(M) got the post of Deputy Mayor in Madurai Municipal Corporation.[132]

Telangana

[edit]

In 2014, CPIM won in one seat in Andhra Pradesh, which subsequently went to Telangana state. However, in 2018 CPIM won no seats. In 2022 Munugode by-election, CPIM supported the candidate fielded by Bharat Rashtra Samithi. In 2023, CPIM will contest the election in alliance with BRS.[133]

Tripura

[edit]

West Bengal

[edit]

State legislative assembly election results

[edit]
Election Year Overall votes % of overall votes Total seats seats won/
seats contensted
+/- in seats +/- in vote share Sitting side
Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly
2024 43,012 0.13% 175
0 / 8
Decrease0.19%
2019
1,01,071 0.32% 175
0 / 7
Decrease1 Steady
2014
4,07,376 0.84% 175
1 / 68
Steady Decrease0.59
2009
6,03,407 1.43% 294
1 / 18
Decrease 8 Decrease 0.49
2004
6,56,721 1.84% 294
9 / 14
Increase 7 Increase 0.14
1999
5,67,761 1.70% 294
2 / 48
Decrease 14 Decrease 1.26
1994
9,23,204 2.96% 294
15 / 16
Increase 9 Increase 0.50
1989
7,07,686 2.96% 294
6 / 15
Decrease 5 Increase 0.15
1985
5,30,349 2.69% 294
11 / 11
Increase 6 Increase 0.20
Assam Legislative Assembly
2021
160,758 0.84% 126
1 / 2
Increase 1 Increase 0.29 Opposition
2016
93,506 0.55% 126
0 / 19
Steady Steady
Bihar Legislative Assembly
2020
274,155 0.65% 243
2 / 4
Increase 2 Increase0.04% Opposition
2015
232,149 0.61% 243
0 / 43
Steady Decrease 0.21
Gujarat Legislative Assembly
2022
10,647 0.03% 182
0 / 9
Steady Decrease 0.01%
Haryana Legislative Assembly
2024 34,373 0.25% 90
0 / 1
Increase0.18%
Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly
2022
27,812 0.66% 68
0 / 11
Decrease 1 Decrease 0.81% Steady
2017
55,558 1.5% 68
1 / 14
Increase 1 Decrease 0.1%
Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly
2024 33,634 0.6% 90
1 / 1
- Increase0.1% Government
2014 24,017 0.5% 87
1 / 3
Decrease0.3% Opposition
Kerala Legislative Assembly
2021
5,288,502 25.38% 140
62 / 77
Increase 4 Decrease 1.14% Government
2016
5,365,472 26.7% 140
59 / 84
Increase 14 Decrease 1.48 Government
2011
4,921,354 28.18% 140
45 / 84
Decrease 16 Decrease 2.27 Opposition
2006
4,732,381 30.45% 140
61 / 84
Increase 37 Increase 6.60 Government
2001
3,752,976 23.85% 140
24 / 74
Decrease 16 Increase 2.26 Opposition
1996
3,078,723 21.59% 140
40 / 62
Increase 12 Increase 0.15 Government
1991
3,082,354 21.74% 140
28 / 64
Decrease 10 Decrease 2.12 Opposition
1987
2,912,999 22.86% 140
38 / 70
Increase 12 Increase 4.06 Government
1982
1,798,198 18.80% 140
26 / 51
Decrease 9 Decrease 0.55 Opposition
1980
1,846,312 19.35% 140
35 / 50
Increase 18 Decrease 2.83 Government
1977
1,946,051 22.18% 140
17 / 68
Decrease 12 Decrease 1.65 Opposition
1970
1,794,213 23.83% 140
29 / 73
Decrease 23 Increase 0.32 Opposition
1967
1,476,456 23.51% 140
52 / 59
Increase 12 Increase 3.64 Government
1965
1,257,869 19.87% 140
40 / 73
New New
Maharashtra Legislative Assembly
2019
204,933 0.37% 288
1 / 8
Steady Decrease 0.02% Opposition
2014
207,933 0.39% 288
1 / 20
Steady Decrease 0.21%
2009
270,052 0.60% 288
1 / 20
Decrease2 Decrease 0.02%
Odisha Legislative Assembly
2024 93,295 0.37% 147
1 / 7
Increase0.07%
2019
70,119 0.32% 147
1 / 8
Steady
2014
80,274 0.40% 147
1 / 8
Steady
Punjab Legislative Assembly
2022
9,503 0.06% 117
0 / 14
Rajasthan Legislative Assembly
2023
382,387 0.96% 200
0 / 17
Decrease 2 Decrease 0.24
2018
434,210 1.2% 200
2 / 28
Increase 2 Increase 0.33
2013
629,002 0.9% 200
0 / 38
Decrease 3 Decrease 0.7
Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
2021
3,90,819 0.85% 234
2 / 6
Increase 2 Increase 0.13 Government
2016
3,07,303 0.72% 234
0 / 25
Decrease 10 Decrease 1.58
2011
8,88,364 2.40% 234
10 / 12
Increase 1 Decrease 0.3 Government
2006
8,72,674 2.70% 234
9 / 13
Decrease 10 Increase 0.33 Government
Telangana Legislative Assembly
2023
52,364 0.22% 119
0 / 19
Decrease 2 Decrease 0.18%
2018
91,099 0.40% 119
2 / 28
Decrease 1
Tripura Legislative Assembly
2023
6,22,829 24.62% 60
11 / 43
Decrease 5 Decrease 17.6 Opposition
2018
9,93,605 42.22% 60
16 / 57
Decrease 33 Decrease 5.51 Opposition
2013
10,59,327 48.11% 60
49 / 57
Increase 3 Increase 0.01 Government
2008
9,03,009 48.01% 60
46 / 56
Increase 8 Increase 1.10 Government
2003
7,11,119 46.82% 60
38 / 55
Steady Increase 1.30 Government
1998
6,21,804 45.49% 60
38 / 55
Increase 6 Increase 0.80 Government
1993
5,99,943 44.78% 60
44 / 51
Increase 18 Decrease 0.40 Government
1988
5,20,697 45.82% 60
26 / 55
Decrease 11 Increase 0.10 Opposition
Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly
2022
5617 0.01% 403
0 / 1
Decrease 0.03
West Bengal Legislative Assembly
2021
2,837,276 4.73% 294
0 / 136
Decrease 26 Decrease 15.02
2016
10,802,058 19.75% 294
26 / 148
Decrease 14 Decrease 10.35 Opposition
2011
14,330,061 30.08% 294
40 / 213
Decrease 136 Decrease 7.05 Opposition
2006
14,652,200 37.13% 294
176 / 212
Increase 33 Increase 0.54 Government
2001
13,402,603 36.59% 294
143 / 211
Decrease 14 Decrease 1.33 Government
1996
13,670,198 37.16% 294
153 / 213
Decrease 32 Increase 1.05 Government
1991
11,418,822 36.87% 294
182 / 204
Increase 2 Decrease 2.43 Government
1987
10,285,723 39.12% 294
187 / 212
Increase 13 Increase 0.89 Government
1982
8,655,371 38.49% 294
174 / 209
Decrease 4 Increase 3.03 Government
1977
5,080,828 35.46% 294
178 / 224
Increase 164 Increase 8.01 Government

Indian general elections results

[edit]
Performance of Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Loksabha elections
Year Legislature Party Secretary Total constituencies Seats won / contested Change in seats Total votes Per. of votes Change in vote % Party Rank Outcome Ref.
1967 4th Lok Sabha Puchalapalli Sundarayya 520
19 / 59
New 6,246,522 4.28 % New 6th Opposition [e 6]
1971 5th Lok Sabha 518
25 / 85
Increase 6 7,510,089 5.12 % Increase 0.84% Increase 2nd Main Opposition [e 7]
1977 6th Lok Sabha 542
22 / 53
Decrease 3 8,113,659 4.29 % Decrease 0.83% Decrease 3rd Opposition [e 8]
1980 7th Lok Sabha E. M. S. Namboodiripad 529(542*)
37 / 64
Increase 15 12,352,331 6.24 % Increase 1.95% Steady 3rd Opposition [e 9]
1984 8th Lok Sabha 541
22 / 64
Decrease 15 14,272,526 5.72 % Decrease 0.52% Steady 3rd Opposition [e 10][e 11]
1989 9th Lok Sabha 529
33 / 64
Increase 11 19,691,309 6.55 % Increase 0.83 Decrease 4th Outside Support [e 12]
1991 10th Lok Sabha 534
35 / 63
Increase 2 17,074,699 6.14 % Decrease 0.41% Steady 4th Opposition [e 13][e 14]
1996 11th Lok Sabha Harkishan Singh Surjeet 543
32 / 75
Decrease 3 20,496,810 6.12 % Decrease 0.02% Steady 4th Outside Support [e 15]
1998 12th Lok Sabha 543
32 / 71
Steady 18,991,867 5.16 % Decrease 0.96% Increase 3rd Opposition [e 16]
1999 13th Lok Sabha 543
33 / 72
Increase 1 19,695,767 5.40 % Increase 0.24% Steady 3rd Opposition [e 17]
2004 14th Lok Sabha 543
43 / 69
Increase 10 22,070,614 5.66 % Increase 0.26% Steady 3rd Outside Support [e 18]
2009 15th Lok Sabha Prakash Karat 543
16 / 82
Decrease 27 22,219,111 5.33 % Decrease 0.33% Decrease 8th Opposition [e 19]
2014 16th Lok Sabha 543
9 / 93
Decrease 7 17,986,773 3.24 % Decrease 2.09% Decrease 9th Opposition [e 20]
2019 17th Lok Sabha Sitaram Yechury 543
3 / 69
Decrease 6 10,744,908 1.75 % Decrease 1.49% Decrease 16th Opposition [e 21]
2024 18th Lok Sabha 543
4 / 52
Increase 1 11,342,553 1.76% Increase 0.01% Increase 14th Opposition [134]

1967 general election

[edit]

In the 1967 Lok Sabha elections, the CPI(M) nominated 59 candidates. In total 19 of them were elected. The party received 6.2 million votes (4.28% of the nationwide vote). By comparison, CPI won 23 seats and got 5.11% of the nationwide vote. In the state legislative elections held simultaneously, the CPI(M) emerged as a major party in Kerala and West Bengal. In Kerala, a United Front government led by E.M.S. Namboodiripad was formed.[k] In West Bengal, the CPI(M) was the main force behind the United Front government formed. The Chief Ministership was given to Ajoy Mukherjee of the Bangla Congress (a regional splinter group of the Indian National Congress).

1971 general election

[edit]

With the backdrop of the Bangladesh War and the emerging role of Indira Gandhi as a populist national leader, the 1971 election to the Lok Sabha was held. The CPI(M) contested 85 seats and won in 25. In total the party mustered 7510089 votes (5.12% of the national vote). 20 of the seats came from West Bengal (including Somnath Chatterjee, elected from Burdwan), two from Kerala (including A.K. Gopalan, elected from Palakkad), two from Tripura (Biren Dutta and Dasarath Deb) and one from Andhra Pradesh.[e 22]

In the same year, state legislative elections were held in three states; West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha. In West Bengal CPI(M), had 241 candidates, winning 113 seats. In total the party mustered 4241557 votes (32.86% of the statewide vote). In Tamil Nadu CPI(M), contested 37 seats but won none of them, obtaining 259298 votes (1.65% of the statewide vote). In Odisha, the party contested 11 seats and won in two. The CPI(M) vote in the state was 52785 (1.2% of the statewide vote).[e 23]

1977 general election

[edit]

In the 1977 Lok Sabha election, the CPI(M) fielded its candidates on 53 seats scattered around in 14 states and union territories of India. It won 4.29% of the average votes polled in this election. The party had won 17 seats from West Bengal, three from Maharashtra, and one each from Odisha and Punjab. This election was done shortly after the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi and reflected a wide uproar of masses against her draconian rule. A coalition of Opposition parties was formed against the Congress regime; CPI(M) too supported this coalition by not fielding its candidates against the Janta Party.[e 24]

1980 general elections

[edit]

The Janta Party coalition did not last long, and two years after its formation India faced the 1980 Lok Sabha election. This election saw an increase in the vote percentage of CPI(M) and the party secured more seats than the previous elections. The Party had contested elections in the 15 states and union territories of India and fielded its candidates on 64 seats. The party had won 37 seats in total. It won 28 seats in West Bengal, seven in Kerala, and two seats in Tripura. The party emerged out as the whole sole representative of the people of Tripura in this election.[e 25]

2014 Lok Sabha election

[edit]

Nine CPI(M) candidates were elected in the 2014 Indian general election, as well as two CPI(M)-supported independents.[136] This is further down from the previous number of 16. The national vote share of CPI(M) has also shrunk from 5.33% in 2009 to mere 3.28% in 2014. This is a significant 38.5% reduction within a span of five years which is consistent with the overall decline of the left in India.[137][138][139] CPI(M) did not win a single seat in Tamil Nadu and its seats went down from 9 to 2 in West Bengal where it is being heavily eroded by Mamata Banerjee governed AITC. Kerala is the only state where CPI(M) gained one more seat but this is mainly attributed to the splitting of anti-LDF votes between the UDF and emerging NDA. The NDA saw a sharp spike in vote share in decades which came coupled with a sharp decline in UDF votes.[140] Thus, it is assumed that the NDA cut into UDF votes thereby facilitating victory for LDF. This was again mirrored during the 2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly election, which saw the NDA getting entry into the State Assembly for the first time as BJP veteran O. Rajagopal wins the Nemom seat and CPI(M)'s Pinarayi Vijayan forming the LDF-ruled government.[141]

2019 general election

[edit]
Mural for CPI(M) candidate Sujan Chakraborty in Jadavpur

The CPI(M) contested on 69 seats nationwide and won three in the 2019 general election. One seat was won in Kerala, where the CPI(M) is leading the state government. Two other seats were won in Tamil Nadu, where the CPI(M) contested within the DMK-led coalition.[142]

2024 general election

[edit]

The CPI(M) contested on 52 seats nationwide and won four in the 2024 general election. One seat was won in Kerala, One seat in Rajasthan and two more in Tamil Nadu under the-DMK led coalition.[143][144]

Indian Presidential elections

[edit]

2002 presidential election

[edit]

In the 2002 Presidential election, Left Front announced Captain Lakshmi Sehgal as its presidential candidate. Against her was the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's candidate A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.[145] CPI(M)'s leadership announced that in form of Captain Lakshmi, they were fielding an 'Alternative Candidate'. They said that though it was clear that Captain Lakshmi could not become president because of the opposition of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Indian National Congress to her, yet through this Presidential Election, the Left wished to raise key national issues and make them heard by the masses.[146] Captain Lakshmi herself pointed out that this Presidential election reflected the opposition of the Indian Left to the communal-sectarian politics of BJP, and the Left's solidarity with the religious minorities who had suffered greatly under the NDA's leadership.[147]

2012 Presidential election

[edit]

While CPI(M) supported Pranab Mukherjee as presidential candidate in 2012 presidential election, it was in favour of a non-Congress candidate for the post of the Vice-President.[148]

List of chief ministers from CPI(M)

[edit]
Key
Denotes the person is the incumbent chief minister
No. Name Portrait Term of office Days in office
Kerala
1 E. M. S. Namboodiripad A portrait of E.M.S. Namboodiripad 6 March 1967 1 November 1969 2 years 240 days
2 E. K. Nayanar 25 January 1980 20 October 1981 10 years 353 days
26 March 1987 23 June 1991
20 May 1996 16 May 2001
3 V. S. Achuthanandan A photograph of V.S. Achutanandan 18 May 2006 17 May 2011 4 years 364 days
4 Pinarayi Vijayan 25 May 2016 20 May 2021 8 years, 207 days
20 May 2021 Incumbent
Tripura
1 Nripen Chakraborty 5 January 1978 4 February 1983 10 years 31 days
5 February 1983 5 February 1988
2 Dasarath Deb 10 April 1993 11 March 1998 4 years, 335 days
3 Manik Sarkar 11 March 1998 26 February 2003 19 years 363 days
27 February 2003 23 February 2008
24 February 2008 14 February 2013
15 February 2013 8 March 2018
West Bengal
1 Jyoti Basu 21 June 1977 23 May 1982 23 years 137 days
24 May 1982 29 March 1987
30 March 1987 18 June 1991
19 June 1991 15 May 1996
16 May 1996 5 November 2000
2 Buddhadeb Bhattacharya 6 November 2000 14 May 2001 10 years 188 days
15 May 2001 17 May 2006
18 May 2006 13 May 2011

List of Rajya Sabha members

[edit]
Current Rajya Sabha members from CPI(M)
Name State Appointment date Retirement date
John Brittas Kerala 4 April 2021 23 April 2027
V. Sivadasan Kerala 24 April 2021 23 April 2027
A. A. Rahim Kerala 3 April 2022 2 April 2028
Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya West Bengal 3 April 2020 2 April 2026
  • Bold indicates CPI(M) leader in Rajya Sabha

List of Lok Sabha members

[edit]
Current Lok Sabha (18th) members from CPI(M)
Name Constituency State
K. Radhakrishnan Alathur Kerala
Sachithanantham R Dindigul Tamil Nadu
S. Venkatesan Madurai Tamil Nadu
Amra Ram Sikar Rajasthan

Splits and offshoots

[edit]

A large number of parties have been formed as a result of splits from the CPI(M), such as

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The bulk of the detainees came from the left-wing of the CPI. However, cadres of the Socialist Unity Centre of India and the Workers Party of India were also targeted.[21]
  2. ^ The 32 were P. Sundarayya, M. Basavapunniah, T. Nagi Reddy, M. Hanumantha Rao, D.V. Rao, N. Prasad Rao, G. Bapanayya, E.M.S. Namboodiripad, A.K. Gopalan, A.V. Kunhambu, C.H. Kanaran, E.K. Nayanar, V.S. Achuthanandan, E.K. Imbichibava, Promode Das Gupta, Muzaffar Ahmad, Jyoti Basu, Abdul Halim, Hare Krishna Konar, Saroj Mukherjee, P. Ramamurthi, M.R. Venkataraman, N. Sankariah, K. Ramani, Harkishan Singh Surjeet, Jagjit Singh Lyallpuri, D.S. Tapiala, Bhag Singh, Sheo Kumar Mishra, R.N. Upadhyaya, Mohan Punamiya, and R.P. Saraf.[23]
  3. ^ Suniti Kumar Ghosh was a member of the group that presented this alternative draft proposal. His grouping was one of several left tendencies in the Bengali party branch.[25]
  4. ^ The jailed members of the new CC, at the time of the Calcutta Congress, were B.T. Ranadive, Muzaffar Ahmed, Hare Krishna Konar, and Promode Dasgupta.[32]
  5. ^ According to Basu,[34] there were two nuclei of radicals in the party organization in West Bengal. One "theorist" section around Parimal Das Gupta in Calcutta, which wanted to persuade the party leadership to correct revisionist mistakes through inner-party debate, and one "actionist" section led by Charu Majumdar and Kanu Sanyal in North Bengal. The 'actionists' were impatient and strived to organize armed uprisings. According to Basu, due to the prevailing political climate of youth and student rebellion, it was the 'actionists' who came to dominate the new Maoist movement in India, instead of the more theoretically advanced sections. This dichotomy is however rebuffed by followers of the radical stream, for example, the CPI(ML) Liberation.[34][35]
  6. ^ On 1 July, People's Daily carried an article titled "Spring Thunder Over India",[36] expressing the support of CPC to the Naxalbari rebels. At its meeting in Madurai on 18–27 August 1967, the Central Committee of CPI(M) adopted a resolution titled "Resolution on Divergent Views Between Our Party and the Communist Party of China on Certain Fundamental Issues of Programme and Policy".[37]
  7. ^ This press statement was reproduced in full in the central CPI(M) publication, People's Democracy, on 30 June. P. Sundarayya and M. Basavapunniah, acting on behalf of the Polit Bureau of CPI(M), formulated a response to the statement on 16 June, titled 'Rebuff the Rebels, Uphold Party Unity'.[41]
  8. ^ Some perceive that the Chinese leadership severely misjudged the actual conditions of different Indian factions at the time, giving their full support to the Majumdar-Sanyal group whilst keeping the Andhra Pradesh radicals (that had a considerable mass following) at distance.
  9. ^ Indian National Congress had won 23 seats, Bangla Congress 33, and CPI 30. CPI(M) allies also won several seats.[e 1]
  10. ^ The same is also true for the Workers Party of Bangladesh, which was formed in 1980 when BCP(L) merged with other groups. Although politically close, WPB can be said to have a more Maoist-oriented profile than CPI(M).
  11. ^ In Kerala the United Front consisted, at the time of the election, of Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India, the Muslim League, the Revolutionary Socialist Party, the Karshaka Thozhilali Party and the Kerala Socialist Party.[135]

References

[edit]
Citations
  1. ^ "CPI (M) report raises concerns over dwindling party membership and laxity of top leadership". 6 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Cpim: സിപിഎം ദേശീയതല അംഗത്വത്തിൽ വൻ കുറവ്; കേരളത്തിൽ മുന്നേറ്റം". 7 April 2022.
  3. ^ "കഴിഞ്ഞ പാർട്ടി കോൺഗ്രസിനേക്കാൾ അംഗങ്ങൾ കുറഞ്ഞു; പ്രതീക്ഷ കേരളത്തിൽ മാത്രം!". ManoramaOnline.
  4. ^ "নতুন সদস্যের হার বাড়ল বঙ্গ সিপিএমে". Anandabazar Patrika Online.
  5. ^ a b Chakrabarty, Bidyut (2014). Communism in India: Events, Processes and Ideologies. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-1999-7489-4. LCCN 2014003207.
  6. ^ a b "Constitution & The Rules Under the Constitution". Communist Party of India (Marxist). 18 March 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  7. ^ "India's election results were more than a 'Modi wave'". The Washington Post. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
    Withnall, Adam (2 January 2019). "Protesters form 620km 'women's wall' in India as female devotees pray at Hindu temple for first time". The Independent.
    "Manipur: CPI State Secretary, Blogger Arrested over CAA Protests". The Wire. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
    Choudhury, Shubhadeep (4 May 2020). "West Bengal has the highest mortality rate of COVID-19 patients: IMCT". The Tribune.
    Nandi, Proshanta (2005). "Communism through the Ballot Box: Over a Quarter Century of Uninterrupted Rule in West Bengal". Sociological Bulletin. 54 (2): 171–194. doi:10.1177/0038022920050202. ISSN 0038-0229. JSTOR 23620496. S2CID 157014751.
    Fernandes, Leela (1996). "Review of Development Policy of a Communist Government: West Bengal since 1977, ; Indian Communism: Opposition, Collaboration and Institutionalization, Ross Mallick". The Journal of Asian Studies. 55 (4): 1041–1043. doi:10.2307/2646581. ISSN 0021-9118. JSTOR 2646581. S2CID 236090170.
    Moodie, Deonnie (August 2019). "On Blood, Power and Public Interest: The Concealment of Hindu Sacrificial rites under Indian Law". Journal of Law and Religion. 34 (2): 165–182. doi:10.1017/jlr.2019.24. ISSN 0748-0814. S2CID 202333308.
  8. ^ "List of Political Parties and Election Symbols main Notification Dated 18 January 2013". India: Election Commission of India. 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  9. ^ "2004 Indian general election", Wikipedia, 1 October 2023, retrieved 5 October 2023
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Sources

[edit]
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